
T^io.^ 



Class 

Book IVV/^i 

Copiglitl^^ 



COFBUGHT DSPOSm 



HISTORY 



THE CITY OF TROY, 



THE EXPULSION OF THE MOIIEGAN INDIANS TO THE PRESENT 

CENTENNIAL YEAR OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1876. 



A. J. V/EISE, A. M. 



WITH MAPS AND STATISTICAL TABLES, 

BY 

A. G. BARDIN, C. E. 



TROY, N. Y. 

WILLIAM H. YOUNG, 

8 & 9 FIRST STREET. 

1S76. 

7r 



^\' 



^^i 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by Wkise & Bardin, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



EDWARD GREEN, PRINTER, VAN BENTHUYSEN & SONS, 

TROY, N. Y. ELECTROTYPERS, ALKANY. 



PREFACE. 



The locality of Troy, from the time when the first Hollander 
erected his humble cabin upon the site of the city until the present, 
has been diversified by many incidents and individuals, peculiar in 
circumstance and action. The lights and shades of its life fall upon 
the pages of history with an enrichment of coloring almost roman- 
tic in disposition, while the variety of their transitions, " from grave 
to gay, from lively to severe," absorbs the attention and charms the 
mind. With an enthusiasm intensified by the inspiring elements of 
this field of research, the author patiently sought for unpublished 
documents and rare manuscripts relating to its early history, which 
by transcription gave the material requisite for the basis of the 
proposed work. 

As the compiler reviews the many explorations of the sources 
whence he obtained his important information, he is impressed with 
a deeper sense of the significance of the maxim, " perseverance con- 
quers all things." Emboldened by repeated successes, he was often 
aware of subjecting persons to many inconveniences in overlooking 
their private papers, and in permitting him the privilege of their 
time and conversation. Conscious that this was no ordinary under- 
taking, and that the opportunity of obtaining access to these repos- 
itories might never occur again to another compiler, he made com- 
plete and entire copies of all the papers and records proffered him. 
Up in dark garrets, in unused closets, in stores, offices, residences, 
in public and private libraries, among antiquarians and keei)ers of 
scrap-books, here, there, everywhere that suggestion or knowledge 
directed, these researches were diligently pursued. 

Many months alone were given to a close inspection of a con- 



4 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

nected line of weekly and daily newspapers published from the 
year 1787 to the present time. The magnitude of this particular 
task is made apparent from the number of journals examined, 
which by computation exceeded ten thousand separate issues. By 
these the various errors of dates in personal statement and of tra- 
ditional history, were made apparent to the writer, and a more com- 
prehensive view of the different personages and events during this 
long line of years was afforded him. 

In the preparation of this matter for publication, the author has 
conscientiously endeavored to set forth only such facts and incidents 
as are authenticated by undoubted and creditable authority. In all 
matters involving bias or personal predilection, it has been his aim 
to be liberal and truthful in narration, rather than aspersive or ex- 
clusive. The dignity of the work has not been prostituted to ad- 
vertisement, but only such persons, incidents and business relation- 
ships are noticed as prominently appeared and were concomitants 
of the periods considered. 

The illustrations, particularly of old buildings, will give the read- 
er a clear conception of their original appearance, while the maps 
afford a proper understanding of the various localities mentioned. 
An appendix, embracing the names and dates of office of the vil- 
lage, city and county officers, and a large number of important 
tables, have been added, which make the work one of much value 
to writers and others who may desire it as a book of reference. 

To William H. Young, whose accurate knowledge and excellent 
memory were constantly at the service of the writer, the latter's 
gratitude is to be expressed. From the inception of the undertak- 
ing until its completion, he gave him the benefit of his long acquaint- 
ance with the eventful history of Troy, and by judicious suggestion 
assisted him in its preparation. 

The author is greatly indebted to Mrs. Sarah S. McConihe for 
many unexpected favors of her time and the privileged use of the 
valuable private papers and memoranda of her distinguished hus- 
band, Hon. Isaac McConihe, deceased. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 5 

The frequent conversations which the writer had with Ebenczer 
Prescott, the oldest living male inhabitant of Troy, whose vivid re- 
collection of the people and their manners at the close of the last 
century, were important sources of information ; to him and his 
amiable wife the thanks of the writer are returned. 

The technical observations of Myron King, so long and favorably 
known as an engraver, and one of Troy's early citizens, have added 
much to the truthfulness of the pictures of many of the old build- 
ings which illustrate the work. 

The courteous favors and commendations of B. H. Hall, Esq., 
and much important information received from'E. Thompson Gale, 
have placed the writer under many obligations to these gentlemen. 

Having had access to the valuable collection of old and rare 
papers of Charles J. Lansing, Esq., of Lansingburgh, an expression 
of the author's thankful acknowledgements is especially due. 

Troy, July 5th, 1S76. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Chapter I. — From the Country to the Village. 1630 to 17S6, 9 

Chapter II. — From the Beginning to the Incorporation of the Vil- 
lage. 1786 to 1794, 20 

Chapter III. — From the Incorporation of the Village to the closing 

year of the Century. 1794 to 1800 41 

Chapter IV. — Manners and Customs of the People. 1786 to 1800, 58 

Chapter V. — From the Closing Year of the Eighteenth Century to 

the Incorporation of the City. 1800 to 1S16, 69 

Chapter VI. — From the Incorporation of the City to the Visit of 

Gen. La Fayette. 1816 to 1824, 109 

Chapter VII. — From the Establishment of Rensselaer School to the 

First Great Land-slide. 1824 to 1837, 147 

Chapter VIII.— From the Mob on St. Patrick's Day to the Second 

Large Fire. 1837 to 1854, 183 

Chapter IX. — From the Large Fire of 1S54 to the Great Fire of 1862, 217 
Chapter X. — From the Great Fire of 1862 to the Fourth of July, 

1876, 243 

Presidents of the Village of Troy, , , 269 

Trustees of the Village of Troy, , 270 

Clerks of the Trustees of the Village of Troy, 272 

Village Treasurers 272 

Village Collectors 272 

Village Assessors 273 

Fire Wardens of the Village of Troy, 275 

Village Fire Engineers 278 

Mayors of Troy, 279 

Recorders of Troy, 280 

Aldermen 281 

Chamberlains of Troy, 297 

City Comptrollers, 297 

City Clerks, 29S 

Troy Fire Department, 299 

Chief Engineers, 301 

Postmasters of Troy, 302 

Representatives in the Assembly, 303 

City Members of the Assembly, 306 

County Judges, 307 

Surrogates' of Rensselaer County, 308 



8 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

District Attorneys, 309 

County Clerks, 310 

County Treasurers, 311 

Sheriffs of Rensselaer County, 312 

Census of the Village and City of Troy, 313 

The Churches of Troy, 34 

Pastors of the Churches 318 

Banks of Troy, 321 

Physicians of Troy, 1876 323 

List of Lawyers, 324 

Manufactures and Productions, 1875, 329 

Troy Directories 332 

Newspapers 333 

Local Societies and Corporations, 337 

Masonic (Lodges), 337 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 340 

Knights of Malta, 341 

Knights of Pythias, 342 

Orangemen, 342 

Grand Army of the Republic 343 

Lodges, 344 

Schools 344 

Manufacturing Companies ." 346 

Miscellaneous (Societies) 347 

Temperance (Societies) 354 

Young Men's Association, 355 

Military (Organizations) 356 

Necrological List, 358 

Opening and Closing of Navigation 364 

Opening and Closing of the Canals 367 

List of Steamboats plying between Troy and New York from 1807 to 

1876, 368 

Statement of Village and City Tax Levied from 1798 to 1876, 370 

A Table of the Valuation of Real and Personal Property from 1825 

TO 1875, 372 

A Table showing the Rate of City, State and County Taxes from 

1825 TO 1875, 374 

Temperature, Lowest, 376 

Record of Warmest Days 377 

Meteorological Record of Rain Fall at Troy, 380 

Index, 382 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



CHAPTER I. 

From the Country to the Village. — 1630 to 1786. 

Almost two and a half centuries ago, Pafraets Dael, a name upon 
a map made by Gillis van Schendel, designated an extent of 
land east of Hudson's river, of which at this time Troy oc- 
cupies the northernmost portion. Pafraets Dael may be inter- 
preted as "the paradise of a lazy man," and was particularly des- 
criptive of the appearance of this region of country, for to the eye 
of the acquisitive Hollander, sailing up the recently discovered 
river * (1609) of the New Netherland, the rich verdure of the 
neighboring meadows, the luxuriant growths of entangled vines 
and shrubbery of the upland, and the extensive tracts of stately 
forests embowering the distant hills, must have seemed the em- 
bodiment of what he would figuratively express as " a lazy man's 
inheritance." Flax and hemp grew uncultivated ; herds of deer 
browsed along the limpid streams; enormous turkeys and myriads of 
partridges, pheasants and pigeons lodged in the adjacent woods ; 
"great plenty of sturgeon " and other fish abounded in the river; 
nuts and wild fruits in their season depended from the trees ; deli- 
cious grapes clustered upon the untrained vines, and such was the 
profusion of wild strawberries growing upon the old maize-lands, 
that the people resorted thither "to lie down and eat them." The 
right of possession of this pleasant country (Luylekkerland) was 
afterwards confirmed by patents to the Patroon^ and settlers, and at 

the same time the appellation "Lubberde land "^ began 

1 ,-111 1 • 1669. 

to appear m the conveyances of landed property lymg on 

1 Henry Hudson sailed from Amsterdam, Holland, the 25th day of March, i6og, (old style) 
or April 4th, 1609, (new style) and anchored within Sandy Hook Sept. 3d, and entered the river 
which perpetuates his name, Sept. 12, 1609. 

2 A proprietor of a tract or tracts of land with manorial privileges and right of entail. 

3" Pafraets Dad" '■^Luylekkerland^'' and " Luhbcrde land;" kindred terms of the expres- 
sions, " a lazy man's paradise," " a lazy man's inheritance," " a lazy crew's land." " lubbers 
land." 

2 



lO HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 

both sides of the Poesten Kill, and bounded on the west by the 
river. 

This region had been the aboriginal domain of the Mohegan or 
Mohican Indians until the spring of the year 1628, when in battle 
with their more powerful enemies, the Mohawks, they were defeated 
with many killed and captured. The small remainder of the tribe, 
expelled from their native homes and hunting grounds, removed 
eastward to the Connecticut river, where less disturbed, they culti- 
vated the soil. 

By right of discovery, the Dutch republic of Plolland granted 
certain privileges to those establishing colonies within its 
newly acquired jurisdiction, and bestowed upon them the 
absolute property of such lands as they might select and settle. 
The first to comply with the stipulations set forth in these important 
concessions was a wealthy and influential man, Kiliaen van 
Rensselaer, a refiner' of pearls and diamonds in Amsterdam. 
Through his special agents^ he purchased from the Indians three 
tracts of land, embracing a territory twenty-four miles long and 
forty-eight broad, containing as estimated, more than seven hundred 
thousand acres of land, over which the counties of Albany, Rensse- 
laer, and a part of Columbia now extend. 

The first Hollander to penetrate the savage wilderness which lay 
north of Fort Orange^ was Jan Barentsen Wemp. With the leave 
and consent of Jan Baptiste van Rensselaer and Arent van 
Corlaer,* he purchased from the Indians the "Great Mea- 
dows " — the present site of Troy. His only neighboring country- 
men were a few farmers living in the vicinity of the Cohoes Falls, 
Around and about him the Mohawks were hunting and trapping. 
From his fields he beheld their bark canoes, laden with peltries, 
gliding to the " Fort " below, and at his door, when the silence of 
the northern winter was upon the valley, the wild man* of the woods 
would knock and find warmth at his rude hearth-stone. His soli- 
tary home and frugal life had their cheer in the marvellous harvests 
which crowned his yearly toil, and the future was more golden as 
his fences and barns enclosed his growing grain and sheltered his 

1 Rafineer, polisher. 

2 Sebastian Jansen Krol, April 8, ifi^o ; GilHs Hassett, July 27. 16^0: and Brandt van Slech- 
tenhorst, March tj, 1652. Brodhead pp. 201. 5-;4. O'Callaghan, vol. i, pp 122, 123, 124. 

3 A small Dutch fort where Albany is now situated. 

4 Agents of the Patroon. 

5 Wilden.— Dutch name for the Indians. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. i r 

multiplying cattle. Jan Barentsen Wemp, however, only lived to be 
a pioneer, for he died a few years after his settlement. 

Sweer Theunissen van Velsen married his widow, Maritie Myn- 
derse, in 1664,' and had all the title and interest of 
Wemp's land confirmed to him in a patent from Governor 
Richard NicoUs, dated 13th April, 1667. It is probable that Pieter 
Adriaens and Barent Pieterse (Coeymans) two Dutch husband- 
men, were attracted to Lubberde land at this time, and settled ad- 
joining him on the south. For on February nth, 1669, the 
former conveyed to his son, Pieter Pieterse van Woggelum, ^ ^' 
a lot, a part of a garden and a number of fruit trees bordering the 
north fence of Coeymans. 

Having erected a saw-mill upon the kill, which was known there- 
after as Poesten Mill,^ Sweer Theunissen van Velsen removed to 
Schenectady, leaving his property in the occupancy of his 
step-son Jacob Heven. Five years after, (i8th Oct., 1674) ^ '^^' 
Geertruy Pieterse van Woggelum sold her interest in another saw- 
mill on the second kill southward, to Wynant Gerritse van der Poel, 
from whom the creek received its name, Wynant's Kill. 

In June of the following year, Sweer Theunissen van Velsen sold 
to Jan Cornelise Vyselaer and Lucas Pieterse (Coeymans) 
his " Poesten Mill ' with the kill whereon it stood, and two ^ '^^' 
morgens^ of arable land opposite Stony-point (Steene-hoeck*) 
granting free egress and a road along the kill by Pieter Pieterse van 
Woggelum's to the shore. 

Between the two kills, Wynant's and Poesten, was a bowery owned 
by Jeronimus Ebbink, husband of Madam Johanna de Laet* 
which, on July 7, 1676, Jurian Teunisse Tappen bought, to- ^ ' " 
gether with a house, a barn and eight horses, which he in turn sold 
(Nov. 6, 1677) to Captain Pliilip Pieterse Schuyler.^ 

1 September 8, 1664, the Dutch possessions of the New Netherland were surrendered to the 
English Commander Colonel Nicolls, and were thereafter known as the Province of New York. 
Fort Orange was then named Albany 

2 Post-mill, a mill sawing sawing posts, lumber, &c 

3 Four acres. 4 Stone-hook — now West Troy. 

5 Heiress of John de Laet, one of the four co-partners of Kiliaen van Rensselaer. 

6 " Philip Pieterse Schuyler came to the new world from Amsterdam in Holland, in the year 
1650. He was married to Margaret van Slechtenhorst, at Rensselaerwyck, on the i2th of Decem- 
ber, 1650. The nuptial rites were performed by Anthony de Hooges. the Secretary of the Colonic 
in the presence of the officers of Fort Orange, the magnates of Rensselaerwyck, and some of the 
principal inhabitants. Phillip Petersen Schuyler died on the 9th of March, 1684, and was buried 
on the nth of the same month, in the Dutch church at Albany. These were the ancestors of 
the Schuyler family in America," — Lossing' s Li/e 0/ Schuyler ^ vol. i,/. 21. 



12 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



On the sixth day of May, 1679, Sweer Theunissen van Velsen 
finally disposed of the original Wemp property to Peter van Wog- 
gelum. 

At the close of the century, it is probable there were seven separ- 
ate families' dwelling contiguous to the river, whose fenced 
^^°°" fields, fruitful orchards and grassy pastures extended north- 
ward from Wynant's to the Piscawen Kill. These sturdy people of 
Holland, resolute in purpose, diligent in labor, and patient in tribu- 
lation, prepared the way into the wilderness, fearing not the terror 
by night of Indian massacre, nor the arrow flying by day from the 
bow of the revenging savage. Their simple lives and relationships 
adorn no brilliant page of history, their humble names are seldom 
mentioned by tradition, and are only discoverable among the concise 
records^ of legal conveyance and tenure. 

Another and a different era began with the opening of the eight- 
eenth century — an era when landmarks were recognized and pro- 
tected; when title and possession were more carefully secured, and 
when men were more honored as they became prominent and active 
agents in subduing the wilderness and cultivating the soil of the 
Manor of Rensselaerwyck.^ 

The following inscriptions were taken from the tomb-stones standing December 4th, 1848, in 
the family burying ground, on the north side of the lane (Madison St.) leading to the Schuyler 
mansion, and west of the Greenbush road, on the old Colonel Stephen I. Schuyler farm in South 
Troy : 

" Barent H. Ten Eyck (born Aug. 31, 1721) died Feb. 6, i8og, aged 87 yrs., 5 mos , 6 days. 

Helena Ten Eyck, (born Aug 31, 1723) died Dec 19, 1809, aged 86 years, 3 mos., 19 days. 

Colonel Stephen I. Schuyler, (born Aug. 12. 1737) died Dec. T4, 1820, aged 83 yrs. 

Helen, wife of Col. Stephen 1. Schuyler, (born May 22, 1746) died May 22, 1818, aged 72 yrs. 

Barent Schuyler, born April 12, 17S0 : died Feb. 11, i8:!3, aged 52 yrs., g mos., 29 days. 

Tobias R. Schuyler, died June 2, 180S, aged 38 yrs. i mo., 12 days. 

Stephen V. R. Schuyler, born Oct, 3,1786; died July 18, 1832, aged 45 yrs., 9 mos., 15 days." 

Col. Stephen I. Schuyler's sons were: 
I Major Henry Schuyler. His wife was a Vischer, of Greenbush. 

Philip S. Schuyler, who built, about 1800, the house known as the old Schuyler house, on the 
hill south of Madison Avenue extended. Tobias R. Col. Stephen V. R., a militia officer. 

Captain Barent, was in the war of 1812, and the Mexican war in 1846-7. 

Captain Courtland, an officer of the old Trojan Greens. John, a farmer. 

Col. Stephen I. divided the farm, and sold the lower portion to his son Henry, who built the 
two-storied brick house known as the Hoyle house, now standing on the banks of the river, south 
of Jackson street. 

The old Schuyler house stood for many years on the south-west corner of Madison and First 
streets. It was built of brick, with dormer windows and gambrel roof. 

1 Jacob Heven, Barent Pieterse (Coeymans), Wynant Gerritse van der Poel, Jan Comelise 
Vyselaer, Lucas Pieterse (Coeymans), Philip Pieterse Schuyler and Pieter Pieterse van 
Woggelum. 

2 Albany records 

3 Confirmed by a patent from Thomas Dongan, Lieut. -Governor, etc., under King James 
November 5, 1685. 








^, 



^^ ad .y Cc„,r^i, t^.y.„fa7S ty ttEISE iB4mm,„ (/.. ^„ ytX,j:.Sr^,^^ «<f J)W,„j,,„,,^.<7. 



[720. 



HISTORY OP^ THE CITY OF TROY. j ^ 

At this period, Derick' van der Ileydcn^ (2d June, 1707), pur- 
chased of Van Woggehim two tracts of land, one bounded on the 
south by the Poesten Kill, and north by Meadow Creek ; the other 
adjacent and running thence northward to the Piscawen.^ He, as 
all the settlers heretofore, was made subjc( t by the Patroon to cer- 
tain exactions. From him was demanded (Dec. 15th, 1720,) 
on the land so purchased, an annual ground rent of three 
and three-fourth bushels of wheat and two fat hens or capons. 

Derick van der Heyden, besides becoming the proprietor of a 
large farm, evidently at this early date was possessed of a ferry 
privilege. The situation of his house (see map of Verplanck), its 
proximity to the river, and its relative distance from the mouth of 
the Poesten Kill, are corroborative of an opinion that the dwelling 
of his son Jacob in 1767, and that of Jacob D. van der Heyden in 
1786 were identically the same building, and known subsequently as 
the " old ferry house."* The Poesten saw mill which Sweer Theun- 
issen van Velsen had built fifty years previously had now disap- 
peared, but the site of it became a much preferred location for other 
mills during the century. Derick van der Heyden had three sons, 
Jacob, David, and Mattys. Among them, in November of 
the year 1731, he divided his estate, granting each an equal 
third part of his possessions. The farm thus allotted was cultivated 
and improved by them and their descendants^ for many years. 

They seem to have been little disturbed by the French and In- 
dian hostilities of 1754-9, for at this time, little low ships 
freighted with brick" were to be seen unlading at different 
points along the shore of the upper Hudson. Meanwhile arose the 

1 Rich.ird. 

2 Heiden — he.ithen. De Heidencn zyn in uiu er/deel gevallen. — The heathen arc come into 
theii inheritance 

3 " Beginning on the north side of a certain creek, called Poesten creek, where there former- 
ly was a saw mill (which said mill stood on a straight line fiftjf eight chains from the said river,) 
and runs from the place where the said mill formerly did stand, down along the said creek to the 
said river: thence up along the said river on five courses, one hundred chains to a small creek 
called the Meadow Creek ; thence into the woods, seventy degrees easterly forty chains ; thence 
south twenty-three degrees thirty minutes westerly along the west side of the land of Albert 
Bratt, one hundred and six chains to the place where it first began, containing in all four hund- 
red and ninety-seven acres and one rood." Another parcel of land and meadow thereunto ad- 
joining and bounded on the north side by a certain kill or creek, known and called by the name 
of Piscawen Kill, and on the south by the aforesaid parcel of land, on the west the river, on the 
east the hills." Deed Book No. 6, pp. 225, 226, Albany County Clerk's Office. 

4 Formerly standing on the south-east corner of Ferry and River streets. 

5 See genealogical table on page 14. 

6 Although bricks were made below Albany as early as 1664, yet their importation from Hol- 
land was continued in the shape of ballast as late as 1790. 



14 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 







^-2 


rt 

1 




111 


*|l 


<v 


C t;;< 




^ 


°:avo 




>^ 


Som 




<u 


rt-d « 




X 


^H 




u 


P-CVO 






V 


•«8dS 






•T3 


:I^^J 






§ 


fe-gfa i! 






> 

0) 


it 


■2 




^ 


h&i 


Q 




(1-l 


(d D -O 






o 


K 5 ^ 






(U 


W 6 U 






3 


OS'S 






OS 


^-Si^ 


» 




H 


< Mo 




, 


^=-s 


.- 


rt 


U rt 


D. 


o 


s> 


<^ 


'So 


w 


-s?- 


^ 


Q 


■Soo' 








OJ 




•2 " 


0) 




8 


?, 






<u 




. 


o 









o ^' 












-.1! -O. 






2. 'Pi o 

•a O ,^M 



Esc-; 






" H C . 


















'O d rt 



oTj 2 tCco- 






HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



15 



quaint proportions of newly built brick houses, whose gambrel. 
long-shingled roofs, were broken by a projecting row of small, 
square dormer-windows. As the landscape became dotted with 
these rural homes, the hands of industry and thrift were multiplied. 
The dull quietude of the long winter was broken by the resonant 
echoes of flails falling upon floors of grain-filled barns, and within 
doors, by the harmonious humming of the spinning wheel, and 
the repeating click-clack of the busy loom. As the evening dark- 
ened into night, the great kitchen fire-place became the focus of 
the family gathering. Within this spacious recess, hung with tram- 
mels and hooks, huge logs of oak and hickory burned and sparkled. 
Here the wearied farmer sat after the toil of the day, quietly 
puffing the smoke from his long-stemmed pipe; here the diligent 
wife {vroTC') plied her knitting needles until the hour of bed-time ; 
here the children were beguiled by the negroes with horrifying 
tales of sudden -appearing spooks; here the stories of the Father- 
land stirred up the dear memories of ancestral homes ; and here 
the cheer of Christ- kinkle day and of Paas was dispensed in the 
shape of forest nuts, koeklings, and cups of flavorous cider. 

When the snow and ice had melted from the fields, the farmer 
went forth to till the ground. The implements of agriculture were, 
as yet, of very primitive construction. Ploughs with mould-boards 
were unknown ; to overturn the soil cut by the passing plough-share, 
required much labor before the soil was ready for the seed. To 
protect the newly sown seed from numerous flocks of flying birds, 
watchers guarded the fields, and a motley crew of spectral effigies 
were improvised to terrify the winged depredators. The ripened 
grain was reaped by loAV-bending sicklemen. Threshing and winnow- 
ing were done by rudest methods of separation. The retting and 
scutching of flax and hemp demanded no little of the grower's 
attention and time. These remote husbandmen were mainly depen- 
dent upon their own resources for such cumbrous instruments of 
tillage as were necessary for farming. In their little smithies the 
iron was shaped into shoes for their horses' feet, and there also 
chains were linked, bars welded, nails pointed, and a multitude of 
contingent wants supplied by their adaptive industry. In the rudi- 
ments of carpentry and joinery they were also proficient. The 
chairs they sat upon, the '' slap banken " on which they slept, the 
tables, the great barn which housed their grain and cattle, were 
ample evidences of their constructive ability. 



1 6 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Absorbed though they were in the cultivation of the farm and 
in the labors which increased their riches, church-going and holidays 
were still strictly observed. The rough country road to Albany 
was regularly travelled on Sundays by these early settlers and their 
families. Upon the baptismal and communicant rolls of the old 
Dutch church their names are enrolled, and to it, — the "kerk" of 
their fathers — they punctually repaired While the father rode on 
horseback, the mother with her arm around his waist, sat upon a 
padded cushion placed behind his saddle. The other members of 
his family were similarly mounted. Matrons and maidens never 
rode alone, for it was at a later period that side-saddles came into 
use. Late in the afternoon they would return in company with their 
neighbors, to whom invitations were often tendered to partake with 
them of the Sunday evening supper. These little friendly civilities 
were interchanged, and established the social relations of life in the 
country. 

Whether the factional interests between the Whigs and Tories 
were espoused to any degree by the Van der Heydens of 
■ the east bank of the North river, there is no historical in- 
formation. However, the following copy of an appointment made 
by Governor William Tryon, 30th July, 1772, affords at least evi- 
dence of an attempt to strengthen the royal cause : 

" Jacob Van der Heyden, gentleman, of the county of Albany, 
appointed by his excellency, William Tryon, Esq., Captain-General 
and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York, and 
the territories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice 
Admiral of the same : First Lieutenant of Captain Henry H. Gar- 
denier's Company of Foot in the Second Battalion in the Regiment 
of Militia in the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, 

Given under my hand and seal at arms, at Fort George, in the 
city of New York, the thirtyeth day of July, in the twelfth year 
of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, Anno Domini 
1772." 

The Whigs were the opposers of royal tyranny and the unjust 
demands of Parliament, and were led in the Province of New York 
by Colonel Philip Schuyler,' one of the few remaining patriots in 
the General Assembly. The Tories were the supporters of the 
Crown and the British ministry. The. design of this military honor 
of Governor Tryon may have been to counteract the political influ- 

I Representative of the city and county of Albany in the Colonial Assembly. 










•jfi 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



17 



ence of Colonel Schuyler in the immediate vicinity of his home,' 
and to win the allegiance of the Van der Heyden family. Such a 
show of patronage, whatever circumstances induced the ayjpoint- 
ment, was evidently considered a high honor at the time, and this 
is attested by the excellent preservation of the original paper. 

These were among the many premonitory preludes which intro- 
duced the thrilling events and the noble deeds of the heroes of the 
American revolution. The quickening spirit of liberty had long 
brooded over the land, and the hearts of three millions of 
people waited the ordination of freedom. In 1775 the war ^^' 
began. For eight years peace was banished from the borders of the 
provinces, and the sounds of battle pulsed along the valleys and 
reverberated among the hills. 

In the summer of 1777, Van Schaick's Island (at present more 
commonly known as Adams' Island,) was the camping ground 
of the northern army, under the command of General Philip ' ' " 

Schuyler. A multitude of small craft laden with munitions of 
war and military supplies sailed up the river and discharged their 
cargoes on its shaly shores. The mingled music of shrill fifes and 
the roar of drums for the morning reveille and the evening tatoo, 
became familiar sounds to the neighboring farmers who wonderingly 
watched the evolutions of the moving soldiery in the various man- 
oeuvres of review and drill. Milk, fruits and vegetables were in great 
demand, and all the contiguous dairies, gardens and orchards were 
soon taxed beyond their means of supply. The British General Bur- 
goyne had at this time advanced by way of Lake Champlain as far 
south as Fort Edward, with an army of nearly ten thousand men. 
His object was to obtain possession of the navigable waters of the 
Hudson, and so confident was he of its accomplishment, that he 
declared he would eat his Christmas dinner in Albany. The forces 
of General Schuyler numbered about five thousand soldiers, mostly 
militiamen,- many of whom were without arms and accoutrements. 

1 Fish Creek, Saratoga County. 

2 The following Muster and Pay-Rolls exhibit the names of the officers and privates belong- 
ing to the militia companies of Lansingburgh and vicinity during the Revolutionary war: 

" A Roll of the Lansingburgh Company of Col. Stephen I. Schuyler's Militla, Feb. 
17TH, 1777. 

Christopher Tillman, Caf>tain. 

Abraham Ten Eyck, Jonathan Sever, Lieutenants. John Clarke, Ensign. 

Daniel Toneray, Aaron Ward, William Concklin, Jonathan Douglas, Sergeants. 

William Willoughby, James Barber, James Sloan, Stephen Marvin, Jun., Cor/>nrah. 

Privates.— Ge.org^ Lane, Abraham J. Ouderkerk, Henry Van Aernum, Robert Thomson, 

3 



1 8 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

The naturally strong position of Haver Island overlooking the fords 
at Half-Moon point, he strengthened with intrenchments and small 
fortifications. At this juncture, while suffering from the aspersions 
of intriguing officers, and laboring under difficulties which Congress 
failed to understand, the command of the Northern Department 

was taken from him and given to General Gates. He as- 

sumed command on the 19th of August, and twenty days 
thereafter the Northern Army broke camp and moved toward Still- 
water, where, on the 19th of September he engaged Burgoyne in 
battle. In a second engagement, October 7th, the Americans were 
victorious, and this success was finally followed by the surrender of 
the army under Burgoyne at Saratoga. Thus passed the threaten- 
ing clouds of war from Northern New York. After a protracted 

struggle for liberty, the rights of an independent govern- 
'^' ment were secured by the noble patriots of the impover- 
ished colonies. 

The destinies of the people were now to be determined for other 
channels of action and usefulness. The business circles of the 
older towns were too contracted for many of the more ambitious 

merchants ; conflicts of manufacturing interests were des- 
* troying enterprise and capital ; commerce was languishing, 

Samuel Burns, Levinus Lansingh, William Thomkins, Samuel Bennet, Michael Houswirt, Com- 
fort Shaw, George Mastin, Robert Armstrong, Conrad Hentlebeeker, John Dunbarr, Robert 
Dunbarr, John Hogg, Pelletiah Winchell, Henty Cambell, Benjamin Bruster, Samuel Bruster, 
John Young, Levinus Leverzey, Solomon Goewy, Francis Hogell, Isaac Van Aernum, Thomas 
Martin, Ephraim Griswould, Jebez Griswould, William Carr, John Wool, Christopher Pamser, 
John Barber, Job Paddock, William Spotten, Nicholas Fisher, Justus Brown, James Perkins, 
Joseph Perkins, John Walker, George Van Vleck, George Boyd, Leonard Miller, William Boyd, 
John FoUet, Phinus Bacon, William Douglas." 

" Pav-Roll of Capt. Cornelius Noble's Company in Col. Stephen I. Schuyler's Regi- 
ment OF Albany Militia, to August hth, 1777: 

Cornelius Noble, Captaiti. 

Samuel Shaw, John Clarke, Lieutenants. John Byly, Ensign. 

Hugh I\Ic^L-lnus, William Greenfield, Samuel Lape, Hezekiah Hull, William Norton, Sergis. 

James Barber, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Frazer, John S. Fine, Corjiorals. 

Emanuel Hennicke, Drumnier. 

Privates. — Herculus Kronckhyte, Abraham Kronckhyte, William Crannell, Hendrick 
Strunck, Jacob Fellow, William Cooper, John Van Ostrander, Hendrick Ploss, Jr., Jacob Smith, 
William Morris, John Hannah, Isaac Crannel, Samuel Evans, Job Paddock, William Willough- 
by, John Paget, Mathew Marvin, Andrew Colehammer, Daniel Groyberger, John Vander War- 
ken, Ephraim Griswould, David Randel, Joseph Dody, Bethuel Greenfield, Solomon Grifiths, 
Stephen Millard, Joshua Randal, Stephen Randal, Reuben Bompis, Ephraim Jackson, Israel 
Brooks, Jacob Van Every, Philip Haner, Joseph Benson, Eleazer Hill, Andreas Barott, Ebenezer 
Baker, Francis Hogell, John Frazer, John Carner, Folket Miller, Peter Minigh, Andries Parker, 
Casparis Valentine, Jost Harwick, John Watter, Frederick Conrad, John Craver, Garrit Peck, 
Ruelf Ostrum, John Lansingh, Thomas Martin, John Kelly, Solomon Battler, Hendrick Ploss, 
Peter Coons, Isaiah Durham." 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. Iq 

and the Continental Congress inefficient to provide a stronger and 
a better government. 

Emigrants from beyond the Green Mountains and the Connecti- 
cut river were seeking other homes, and eligible locations for traffic 
and trade. Professional men, mechanics and manufacturers fol- 
lowed them. The opportunities for barter and gain which the pro- 
ducts of the well-cultivated farms, and the general wants of the in- 
creasing population of the territory of the Hudson River north of 
Albany afforded, were soon perceived by these migrating and spec- 
lative New Englanders, One by one they came together and 
formed the elementary organization of an embryo village, which, 
ninety years thereafter, had developed into a large and prosperous 
city. 



CHAPTER II. 

From the Beginning to the Incorporation of the Village. — 1786 to 1794. 

The land whereon the City of Troy became established, was in 
the year 1786, owned by three farmers, Jacob I., Jacob D., and 
Matthias Van der Heyden. The first and eldest was in possession 
of the northernmost farm, which extended from the Piscawen Kill 
southward to a line projected easterly from the river through Grand 
Division street. The middle tract of land, bounded south 
' by what is now known as Division street, adjoined the land 
of Jacob I. Van der Heyden on the north, and had been bequeathed 
to Jacob D. by his father Dirck, in 1774. The third portion, which 
adjoined the farm of Jacob D. and terminated at the Poesten Kill, 
had been conveyed to Matthias by his grandfather Mattys in his 
will dated March i, 1770. 

The two upper farms were in point of cultivation and fertility 
superior to the southern farm, being more elevated, and less flooded 
by the spring freshets, and also being irrigated by smaller streams 
than the wide-spreading and meandering Poesten Kill. The ground 
lying between Ferry and Division streets was fenced and tilled. 
Not far north of it, along the bank of the river, was an orchard, 
and from the River road (as River street was then designated,) to 
the foot of the hills, a mingled growth of pines and scrub oaks cov- 
ered the neglected soil. 

Jacob I. Van der Heyden resided a little north of the junction of 
the Hoosick and River roads (Hoosick and River streets). His 
antique one-story brick dwelling long remained a landmark of the 
past. The floors were laid with ten-inch yellow pine boards, fas- 
tened by wrought iron spikes to oaken beams, twelve by fourteen 
inches. The height of the room did not exceed eight feet. Founded 
as it was on a solid rock, its walls are still unimpaired by time, al- 
though the hand of improvement has incorporated them with those 
of a larger and more modern structure. (See engraving.) 

Jacob D. Van der Heyden, better known to the early settlers as 
the " Patroon," lived in a frame building at the east side of the 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 21 

River road and south of the one leading to the ferry. It is proba- 
ble that at this time it was the oldest house north of the Pocsten 
Kill. (See engraving.) After Jacob 1). removed to his new brick 
mansion on the southwest corner of Grand Division and Eighth 
streets, it was sold and taken away to another part of the growing 
village. 

Matthias, the younger of the three proprietors, dwelt in the old 
farm-house which continues to stand as a venerable monument of a 
by-gone period, at the southeast corner of Division and River streets. 
This ancient edifice, built one hundred and twenty-four years ago, 
although despoiled of its original Dutch roof, is the oldest link 
which Troy possesses in the chain of its history. 

Such was the situation previous to the arrival of any of the ad- 
venturers from the eastern provinces. When the tide of emigration 
did set in, the applications of the New Englanders for lots upon 
which'to erect houses and places of business, were met with re- 
peated denials. The difficulties which had grown out of the vexed 
questions relative to the earlier boundaries of New Netherland, had 
not been forgotten, and from those recent experiences the Dutch 
people had learned to be extremely wary of their Yankee neighbors. 
Propositions to purchase their land were therefore received with the 
utmost coldness and distrust. The " Patroon" Jacob D., and his 
family, strongly opposed every project which contemplated the es- 
tablishment of a community upon any portion of his patrimonial 
estate. 

The result of such frequent repulses was, for a time, of great 
benefit to "New City,"' as Lansingburgh was first named. A spirit 
of enterprise had early infused itself into the business relations of 
this already growing village. Suitable locations within its bounds for 
the erection of buildings were offered on most favorable terms, and 
a general interest in the welfare of the new settlers was manifested 
by all of its inhabitants. These fortuituous circumstances surround- 
ing the prosperity of New City, however, were to be changed. The 
Van der Heyden families were no such dullards as not to perceive 
they had unwisely refused opportunities of money making more eli- 
gible than those which follow from the cultivation of the soil. Their 
prejudices also began to waver, as they beheld the increasing wealth 
of their more northern neighbor, Vbraham J. Lansingh, who had 
subdivided his land, and was disposing of it to the eastern purchasers. 

I Nieuw Stadt (New City), in contradistinction to Oude Stadt, the Old City (Albany.) 



22 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Jacob I. Van der Heyden was the first of the family to accept the 
proffered money of one of the New England emigrants. To him, he 
sold a lot on the west side of the River road, where now the boiler 
manufactory of Thos. S. Sutherland, No. 485 River street, is situat- 
ed. A frame building was erected; a mixed assortment of merchan- 
dise arriving in a schooner was transferred to the shelves and 
counters arranged therein ; and the attractive sign of a huge bunch 
of grapes was suspended from above the door, so as to project out- 
wardly to the roadway in front. This active man of business, as 
soon as the first newspaper was published in Lansingburgh, intro- 
duced himself to the public generally, by an advertisement, as fol- 
lows : 

" Benjamin Thurber' Hereby acquaints the Public that he con- 
tinues to sort his New Cash Store, at the Sign of the Bunch of Grapes, 
at the Fork of Hoosack Road, near Mr. Jacob Vanderheyden's, 
with East, West-India, and European Goods of all kinds. For 
which he will receive, in lieu of Cash, black Salts, Shipping Furs, 
Wheat, Corn, Rye, Butter, Cheese, Flax and Flax Seed, Tallow, 
Hogs' lard, Gammons, Pork, Bees'-Wax and old Pewter. He also 
continues to receive ashes, as usual, to supply his new erected Pot 
and Pearl Ash factory, and will pearl black Salts in the best manner 
on equitable Terms ; and also will give the highest Price for black 
Salts. 

N. B. A number of New French Muskets for sale at the above 
Store. "2 

The next applicant was Captain Stephen Ashley, of Salisbury, 
Connecticut. He secured the old building of Matthias Van der 
Heyden, at the corner of Division and River streets, by a two years' 
lease, and opened the house as a tavern. In connection with his 
business as a landlord, he controlled and operated a ferry, which, 
being the only public crossing over the river in the vicinity, brought 
him both guests and gain. Following him, came Benjamin Covell, 
on the second day of November, 1786, from Providence, Rhode 
Island. A few days after his arrival, he began store-keeping in a 
building rented for six months from Captain Ashley, with whom he 
boarded. In a letter dated Ferry Hook, November i6th, 1786, and 
addressed to his brother Silas, he stated that he had done more 
business in one day here than he had done in a week in Providence, 

1 From Providence, R. I. 

2 Northern Centinel and Lansingburgh Advertiser, June 4, 1787. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 23 

and that after sundown of the niglit of the fifteenth, he had taken 
in twenty dollars. 

The leavening influences following the appearance of these men 
soon began to affect the territorial interests of Jacob D. Van der 
Heyden. The natural steepness of the bank of the river along the 
shore line of his property afforded vessels a close approach to land, 
and for this reason his farm was more favorably looked upon than 
the upper and lower farms. At length, owing to the continuous im- 
portunities of the New Englanders and the advice of his Dutch 
friends, he was finally induced to have a part of his land surveyed 
and laid out into lots. Flores Bancker was employed as surveyor, 
and a map of the middle farm or allotment was completed by him 
on May ist, 17S7. "It was, with a foresight not always observed, 
laid out with a view of its ultimately being a place of considerable 
magnitude; and Philadelphia, with its regular squares and rectangu- 
lar streets, was selected as its model, by the advice of a gentleman 
who had made a then rare visit to that celebrated city." 

Among the first to secure a lot was Benjamin Covell, who took a 
lease in fee of lot number five, (the fourth one on the west side of 
River and south of Ferry street,) on which he paid an annual rent 
of ten dollars. To it he transferred a frame building, thirty-six feet 
long and twenty-two feet wide. This, with several additions, he 
converted into a store and dwelling. Not long after he procured 
lot number four. It is to be inferred that Vanderheyden, as the 
settlement is designated in his letters, had already other inhabi- 
tants than those above mentioned. The number may, indeed, have 
been small, but evidently it was a sufficient nucleus in itself to af- 
ford him a patronage of no little value. At this time, Abraham Van 
Arnam is advertised as living near Benjamin Thurber's store; and 
Captain Benjamin Allen was in command of a vessel then anchored 
in the river. By this sailor, Benjamin Covell transmitted to his 
brother Silas, in Providence, twelve pounds and ten ounces of bea- 
ver, sixteen raccoon skins, and a quantity of country produce, for 
which he was to return in exchange, tanned sheepskins, leather 
gloves, writing paper and spelling books. 

The importance of the little hamlet was greatly enhanced about 
this time by the adventitious arrival of Doctor Samuel Gale, 
of Killingworth, Connecticut. Intending to become a resi- 
dent of New City, he embarked, in the month of August, 17S7, on 



24 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



board a sloop with his wife, and two daughters and five sons/ with 
the prospect of a short and pleasant voyage. However, contrary 
winds and unforseen detentions along the Sound and up the river 
lengthened the journey by water to a three weeks' passage, and the 
vessel did not reach Vanderheyden until the first of September. 
Conjecturing that this unexpected delay might have deprived him 
of the house for which he had previously bargained, he conchided 
to let his family and goods remain at Vanderheyden, while he pro- 
ceeded by land to New City. Here he learned that the owner, then 
residing in New York, not having been definitely apprised of his 
coming, a few days before, had rented the house to another person. 
On his return, he was kindly received by Jacob D. Van der Heyden 
and family, through whom he was induced to make the place his 
future residence. A portion of the house of Jacob D. Van der 
Heyden was at once tendered the Doctor, and here the family re- 
mained through the winter, until a double frame dwelling had been 
erected on the two lots, numbered six and seven, south of the south- 
west corner of River and Ferry Streets. Soon, the professional 
abilities of Dr. Gale were called into requisition by the neighboring 
families and more remote farmers ; and while he enlarged his ac- 
quaintance, at the same time the circle of his practice widened. In 
the month of October following, he too became engaged in the 
rapidly increasing trade and commerce of Vanderheyden, and in 
this he continued one year, when his son Benjamin succeeded him. 

The transportation of wheat and other products to New York, 
and to different points along the New England coast, was at first 
accomplished by the schooner Flora of sixty tons burden. Return- 
ing, she was freighted with such foreign goods and domestic mer- 
chandise as were demanded by the local trade and daily barter of 
the place. Accommodations for passengers, also, were provided on 
board, as water conveyance was the most rapid means of transit af- 
forded the earlier inhabitants. The sloop Joanna soon after 
began also to sail to and fro with freight and passengers. 
The shipping interests at this time were under the direction of Abra- 
ham Van Arnam, Casper Frats, Yalles Mandeville, Michael Antho- 
ny and William Selden. 

The ferry which Captain Stephen Ashley had secured in his two 
years' lease, was again to revert to Matthias Van der Heyden, as ap- 
pears in the following card : 

I Benjanim, John, Samuel, Royer Townsend, and William. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 25 

" The subscriber respectfully informs the public that as the time 
for which he leased his Ferry to Captain S. Ashley hath expired, he 
proposes to exert himself in expediting the crossing of those who 
may please to take passage in his boat, which will ever be in readi- 
ness directly opposite the house at present occupied by said Ashley. 
The terms of crossing will be as moderate as can reasonably be ex- 
pected, and a considerable allowance made to those who contract 
for the season. 

He has in contemplation to commence keeping tavern in a few 
weeks from the date hereof, when no exertions of his shall be want- 
ing to accommodate those who shall resort the house from which 
Mr. Ashley will shortly remove. 

Matthise Vanderheyden.' 

N. B. Notice for crossing will be given by sounding a conk-shell 
a few minutes before the boat starts. "^ 

The terms were, for crossing in the boat with a wagon, is. 6d; 
man and horse, 6c/y footman, 3^/. 

Vanderheyden, as it became more noted for business, advanced no 
less in the fashionable proprieties of dress. This is evidenced by 
the following advertisement "Asa Crossen, Taylor and Habit 
Maker, from New London, informs the public that he carries on his 
business in all its various branches, at Messrs. Ashley and Vander- 
heyden's ferry, and flatters himself that if elegance in fitting ladies 
and gentlemen in the newes.t fashion will be an inducement to them 
to honor him with their commands, he doubts not from his experi- 
ence to give general satisfaction to all who employ him. All favors 
will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged."^ 

Before the close of the year, Ephraim Morgan, Jonathan Hunt, 
and John Boardman were added to the number of merchants 
already established and doing business in Vanderheyden. 

Elkanah Watson, returning from the West in the autumn of 17 88, 
gives the following description of the settlement in his Journal : 

" From Schenectady, I passed the road to Ashley's Ferry, six 
miles above Albany. On the east side of the river, at this point, 
a new town has been recently laid out, named Vanderheyden. This 
place is situated precisely at the head of navigation on the Hudson. 
Several bold and enterprising adventurers have already settled here; 

1 The original name is Van der Heyclen. 

2 Federal Herald, May lo, 17S8. 

3 Federal Herald, June 23, 1788. 

4 



26 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 

a number of capacious warehouses and several dwellings are already 
erected. It is favorably situated in reference to the important and 
growing trade of Vermont and Massachusetts ; and I believe it not 
only bids fair to be a serious thorn in the side of New City, but in 
the issue a fatal rival. I think Vanderheyden must, from its more 
eligible position, attain ultimate ascendancy." 

The rivalry to which Watson referred, was prominent in every 
feature which marked the business interests of the place. It began 
with Benjamin Covell, who, when on his first voyage to Ferry- 
Hook,' being told by a Dutchman that paper was the best article 
he could carry up the river, wrote to his brother, "don't sell your 
paper to anybody that belongs to New City." These men, few in 
number, possessed of little capital, and hampered by many local pre- 
judices, entered into competition with their formidable neighbors of 
New City with a spirit of activity and enterprise which soon gained 
for Vanderheyden an envied reputation, and made it the mart of 
trade for the new State of Vermont and all the surrounding country. 

Its local advantages were particularly conducive to its growth and 
prosperity. It was situated at the head of ordinary navigation ; it 
was at a point where the roads traversing the country eastward of 
the Hudson converged to the ferry ; the farmers living south of the 
Mohawk river along the Boght (the bend) found it more convenient 
of approach, and at a shorter distance from their farms than either 
New City or Albany ; and the more northern pioneers of the wilder- 
ness bordering on lakes Champlain and George, discovered that 
prices for wheat and staple productions were much higher at this 
market than at either of the sister places. With these auspicious 
circumstances attending it, Troy entered upon its history. 

At a meeting of the resident property owners, on Monday even- 

ing, January 5, 1789, the name Troy was adopted, and by 

this designation it was resolved that the settlement should 

be known, and that the same should be published in the papers of 

Albany and Lansingburgh. The announcement was made in the 

following statement : 

" To THE Public. — This evening the freeholders of the place 
lately known by the name of Vanderheyden 's or Ashley's Ferry, 
situated an the east bank of Hudson's river, about seven miles above 
Albany, met for the purpose of establishing a name for said place, 
when by a majority of voices it was confirmed, that in future it 

I Early name fur present site of Troy. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 2 7 

should be called and known by the name of Troy.' From its pre- 
sent improved state, and the yet more pleasing prospect of its popu- 
larity arising from the natural advantages in the mercantile line, it 
may not be too sanguine to expect, at no very distant period, to see 
Troy as famous for her trade and navigation, as many of our first 
towns. Troy, January 5, 1789. "2 

The assumption of this classical title by the village very naturally 
gave rise to criticism. Pedantic communications appeared in the 
newspapers of the contiguous localities, opinions of fitness and un- 
fitness were discussed, and the pages of history consulted by the 
more earnest champions of the differing sides. However, the fre- 
quent use of the name in the various transactions of business 
gradually extinguished all the petty feeling which the adoption of 
it had engendered. Still the indentures made by Jacob D. Van der 
Heyden, in the conveyance of lots at this time, exhibit his steady 
adherence to the former designation, and his property was described 
as being at " Vanderheyden (alias Troy)." 

From the older States the tide of emigration continued, and Troy 
became more attractive, as the fame of its traffic was published 
by correspondence and passing travelers. With packs upon their 
backs, Ebenezer and Samuel Willson,^ two brothers, young and vig- 
orous, of Mason, New Hampshire, crossed the Green Mountains on 
foot, in the month of Februari^, and located here. They began 
brick making the summer after their arrival, east of Fifth, and in 
the vicinity of Ferry street. Mahlon Taylor, another enterprising 
and energetic individual, came from New Jersey and obtained the 
proprietorship of a saw and flouring mill on the Poesten Kill. Col- 
onels Albert Pawling and Abraham Ten Eyck, two soldiers of the 
Revolutionary war, removed from Lansingburgh, where they had 
been partners in business, and entered themselves as Abraham Ten 
Eyck & Co., in the fortunes of Troy. Richard Grinnell, James 
Caldwell, Josiah Kellogg, Israel Knapp, Robert McClellan, Isaac 
Rogers and Henry Oudthout are also chronicled as merchants and 
inhabitants of the place. 

In this year there was granted by the Legislature to Ananias Piatt, 
an innkeeper of Lansingburgh, a right to run a daily stage between 
that place and Albany, which, going and returning, passed through 

1 This appellation, it is said, was suggested by Christopher Hutton. 

2 Federal Herald, January 12th, 1789. 

3 The double consonants occur in their first signatures, but afterwards one /was dropped. 



28 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Troy. This conveyance began running on Tuesday, April 21st, 1789, 
from Piatt's Inn in Lansingburgh to Lewis's City Tavern, Albany, 
stopping five minutes on the way at Captain Ashley's tavern. Pass- 
engers were charged four shillings for a round trip, twenty pounds 
of baggage being allowed to each person paying full fare. This 
undertaking met with ample patronage, and at the end of the suc- 
ceeding five years Ananias Piatt was induced to place another 
similar coach upon the route. 

One of the local celebrities of Troy, in the year 1790, was Cap- 
tain Stephen Ashley, who having vacated, in the previous 
^ ■ year, the Matthias Van der Heyden house, had now opened 
an inn in a new and larger building on the east side of the road 
north of the corner of Ferry and River streets. This was a tavern 
much resorted to by a large number of farmers, to whom this jovial 
host had endeared himself, and it was also a favorite stopping place 
for a night's lodging for those going to and returning from New 
York on river craft. Upon Ferry street he planted two high poles, 
one on each side of the roadway, and connected them at the top 
with a horizontal bar, and from it he suspended a small gate, upon 
which was painted in large letters : 

" This gate hangs high, it hinders none, 
Refresh, then pay, and travel on." 

In front, on River street, was erected a tall sign-post, on the top 
of which was a three-sided box supported by pivots, which turned 
with the wind, and bore this public invitation on its several sides : 

" Come, here is Ashley's, let us call." 

The ennobling and beneficent interests of the Christian religion 
were not forgotten nor absorbed by business cares, but were culti- 
vated and displayed, both in individual character and in the proper 
observance of Sunday. No clergyman of any denomination had 
yet been settled here, and the inhabitants were solely dependent 
upon their own ability and association for mutual instruction and 
edification in the precepts of the Bible The services of public 
worship were first held in the ball-chamber of Ashley's Tavern, 
which was the most commodious apartment offered. The conch- 
shell used at the ferry, was blown at precisely nine o'clock on 
Sunday morning, with a slow and prolonged sound, by which it was 
generally understood that religious services would begin at ten. 
When the people had convened, William Frazer (the only person 
who would pray in public,) invoked the Supreme Being, after which 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 29 

Jacob D. Van der Heyden lined out a Psalm, in the singing of 
which the men and women united their voices. This was followed 
by a selected sermon read either by Doctor Gale or Colonel Paw- 
ling, both of whom were excellent readers. The services closed as 
they had begun, Jacob D. Van dcr Heyden lining the hymn, and 
William Frazer making the closing prayer. Frequently, preaching 
occurred in the old Brick Church in Lansingburgh. This was an- 
nounced in the papers, and the service was generally well attended 
by the people of Troy. 

The large territory of Albany county, on the seventh day of Febru- 
ary, 1 791, was subdivided,' and a portion of it was named 
Rensselaer county, in honor of the Van Rensselaer family. ^ 
The new county officers met in Lansingburgh, at the inn of Ananias 
Piatt, on Tuesday, April, 15th, and there took the necessary oaths of 
office, and appointed the third day of May, following, for the sitting 
of the first court. The Judges were, Anthony Ten Eyck, John Van 
Rensselaer, Israel Thompson, Robert Woodworth and Jonathan 
Brown ; Assistant Judges, John Knickerbacker, Jun., John W. 
Schermerhorn, Jonathan Niles, Benjamin Hicks, Nicholas Staats, 
Robert Montgomery, Moss Kent and John E. Van Alen ; Justices, 
Levinius Lansing, Jonah Martin, Hosea Moffit, Daniel B. Bradt, 
Joseph Spencer, David Brown, Moses Vail, James McKown, Abner 
Newton, Stephen Gorham, Jacob Van Alstyne, Ephraim Morgan, 
Josiah Masters, Gerrit Winne, Jacob A. Lansing, Rowland Hall, 
Hezekiah Hull, William D. Douglass, Daniel Gray, Jonas Odel, 
Benjamin Randal, Benjamin Hawks, Harmin Van Vechten, Benjamin 
Milks, Ebenezer Darling, Jacob Van der Heyden, Jun., John C. 
Schermerhorn, and Nathaniel Jacobs; Sheriff, Albert Pawling; 
Clerk, Nicholas Schuyler ; Surrogate, Moss Kent , Coroners, Silas 
Weeks, Abraham Ten Eyck, John De Wandelaer, James Smith and 
Aaron Ostrander. The county clerk's office was first kept in a 
house in Lansingburgh, previously occupied by N. Jacobs, near that 
of Col. Van Rensselaer. 

The town of Troy was formed from Rensselaerwyck, on the i8th 
day of March, 1791. On Monday, the 4th of April following, a 
town-meeting was held, and the first officers were elected. These 
were: Supervisor, Cornelius Lansing; Assessors, Derick Lane, 
Ephraim Morgan, David De Freist, Henry H. Gardinier, and Nicho- 
las Wager; Constables, David Henry, William Hickok, Lawrence 

I Into Albany, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. 



30 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Dorset and Samuel Colamore ; Collector of Taxes, David Henry ; 
Overseers of the Poor, David Henry and Henry H. Gardinier , 
Commissioners of Highways, Cornelius Lansing, Mahlon Taylor and 
Jacob Wager ; Town Clerk, Cornelius Lansing. 

According to appointment, the county court opened in due form, 
(in a building on the corner of King' and Lansing streets) in the 
village of Lansingburgh, and after establishing the rules, &c., ad- 
journed to meet at the house of Captain Stephen Ashley, in Troy, 
on the second Tuesday in November following. The grand jury on 
the day of adjournment informed the Court that they had " no cause 
of presentment." The following persons were sworn as attorneys 
of said court : Dirck Ten Broeck, Moss Kent, Peter E. Elmendorf, 
John V. Henry, Peter D. Van Dyck, Abraham Hun, John W. Yates, 
Nicholas Fonda, Gerrit Wendell, John D. Dickinson, Gerrit Van 
Schoonhoven, Cornelius Vandenbergh, John Lovett, Francis Sil- 
vester, Sanders Lansing and John Woodworth. The county courts 
were thereafter held alternately at the inn of Ananias Piatt in Lan- 
singburgh, and the public house of Captain Ashley in Troy, until 
the erection of the Court House on Second street. 

With such antecedents, Ashley's Tavern was not only a reputable 
rendezvous for all travelers, but the place of the annual meeting of 
the County Court, a poll for the election of civil officers, and on 
Sundays, a meeting house for divine worship. Incongruous as some 
of these uses may seem in connection with a tavern, still they are to 
be considered as due to the pressing necessities of a new village 
where the wants are greater than the accommodations. Additional 
prestige was given to the house in the month of May, 1791, when 
the Secretary of State, Hon. Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, 
then a member of the Constitutional Congress, representing the 
State of Virginia, made it a stopping-place on their way to Lake 
George. 

Christopher Hutton and Timothy, his brother and partner, were 
among the leading dealers and shippers of grain and produce, and 
their warehouse is still standing in all of its original completeness 
No. 457, on the west side of River street, opposite King street. 
Christopher Hutton was in the Revolutionary war, and is said to 
have been much esteemed, as an officer of great merit, by General 
Washington. Timothy was a man of polished manners and of 
strict integrity. William Willard was the apothecary of the village. 

I The name of Kine: street, after the Revolutionary war, was changed to State street. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. ci 

Andrew Cathcart & Co. possessed a large storehouse for wheat near 
Abraham Ten Eyck & Co.'s building, and Benjamin and John Gale 
were engaged in the sale of general merchandise. The annexed 
map accurately represents the residences and business places of the 
other inhabitants of Troy in the year 1791. 

As the population of the village increased, the attendance upon 
the religious exercises held on Sundays, in Captain Ashley's ball- 
room, grew larger, and soon that apartment could no longer ac- 
commodate the people. The red school-house was the next place 
resorted to by the worshippers of God. This associating body of 
christians was sensible of the benefits to be derived from a more 
united organization, and at the same time was desirous of securing 
the services of a preacher and pastor. The same feeling prevailed 
among the people of Lansingburgh. The citizens of Troy, after 
some preliminary meetings, at length decided to form themselves 
into a Presbyterian congregation, and on the 31st day of December, 
1791, at a meeting held at the dwelling house of Stephen Ashley, 
Jacob D. Van der Heyden, Samuel Gale, Ephraim Morgan, John 
McChesney, Sr., Benjamin Covell and Benjamin Gorton were elect- 
ed Trustees of the Presbyterian Congregation of the Town of Troy. 
A similar action on the part of the people of Lansingburgh occur- 
red on Wednesday, August 29th, 1792, when Shubael Gor- 
ham, James Dole, Jonas Morgan, Levinius Lansing, John 
Lovett and John D. Dickinson, were chosen Trustees. These two 
bodies were united, and in August of the same year proffered a call 
to the Rev. Jonas Coe, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York, 
to become their pastor. This call was accepted by him, and he be- 
gan his ministrations in the two villages the same autumn. This 
most excellent man and minister, after the Lansingburgh congrega- 
tion had been dissociated from the Troy body, served the latter 
most acceptably for nearly thirty years. 

Previous to the foregoing action, the people, without respect to 
denominational tendencies, began the erection of a frame building 
for a meeting house, near the south-east corner of Congress and 
First streets. To complete this building, at a meeting of the mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian congregation, held on November 26, 1792, 
it was resolved, that " Whereas, the inhabitants of the town have 
begun and partly completed a church building, but by reason of the 
almost infant settlement, and a variety of other public expenses, 
which must necessarily attend a newly settled town, they find it bur- 



32 HISTORY OP^ THE CITY OF TROY. 

densome for them to carry their wishes into effect without calling in 
the aid of their friends and fellow-christians ; we therefore, the 
trustees of said congregation, have and do hereby appoint Jacob D. 
Van der Heyden to present this our memorial to all whom he shall 
think proper, requesting their aid and assistance in the completion 
of the above undertaking." The contract for enclosing the build- 
ing was let to Abel House, Robert Powers, Henry and John De 
Camp, and Benjamin Smith, and for doing this work they were to 
receive " forty-six pounds, thirteen shillings, York money, in cash ; 
and ninety-three pounds, seven shillings, in European and West In- 
dian goods at the retail cash prices in Troy." The ground upon 
which the edifice was built was donated by Jacob D Van der Hey- 
den. In the spring of 1793 a floor was laid, and a temporary plat- 
form erected preparatory to the ordination of the pastor. Blocks of 
wood were brought into the building, and boards placed upon them 
for the seating of the people. On Tuesday, the twenty-fifth of June, 
the Rev. Jonas Coe was ordained in the new meeting house, by the 
Presbytery of Albany, as pastor over the united congregations of 
Troy and Lansingburgh, in the presence of a large audience. "On 
the occasion, the Rev. John McDonald presided, and delivered a 
solemn and pathetic discourse from the address of Paul to the elders 
of Ephesus, Acts 20: 28. The Rev. Simon Hosic gave the charge 
to the newly ordained minister, and the Rev. Aaron Condict ad- 
dressed the people. All was conducted with propriety and dignity 
becoming the solemnity of the occasion." The interior of the 
church was not entirely completed and furnished until several years 
thereafter. The remams of Derick Van der Heyden and his wife, 
which at their death, some years previous, had been buried in the 
back part of their garden, were, on the completion of the meeting- 
house, deposited in a vault which had been constructed under it for 
that purpose. 

In lieu of a national circulating medium, foreign specie was em- 
ployed in facilitating the business transactions of the merchants and 
the other inhabitants of Troy ; and for amounts less than one dollar 
paper money (shin-plasters) was substituted, in the various denomi- 
nate values of shillings and pence. The firm of Jonathan and Al- 
sop Hunt were among the first to issue these notes of hand, which 
were in the form of the following copy : 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



33 



m»){ J/f/^J^ Promife to pay the Bear-)(| 
ym er, THREE FENCE, on)( 
^)(demand at our store, )(•! 

^ST^^PrintedTy iCBarber. Ti^^^ 

The Trustees of the Presbyterian congregation also put into cir- 
culation corresponding notes, whereby the weekly contributions of 
the members were more promptly and regularly collected. 



2^aOoc/>i-cu9^ ">^c//ici0cj/9o^ 





Spanish coin was received from New York in small wooden kegs, 
which being opened, were deposited in the various stores behind the 
counter, on the ledge of the lower shelving. The number of kegs, 
with their shining contents thus exposed by the merchants, naturally 
advertised their resources, and readily attracted the attention of the 
observant Dutch farmers. The grain merchants of Albany and 
Lansingburgh, for some time previous, had been accustomed to 
make as great a show and parade of their money as was possible, 
and by this method of publishing their resources, had already se- 
5 



34 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

cured the trade and custom of a large circle of the adjacent farm- 
ers. Not to be outdone by the show and parade of these compet- 
ing merchants, Benjamin Covell, who was always alive to the inter- 
ests of Troy, as well as to his own prosperity, originated a very 
enticing mode of attracting customers by a more free and open dis- 
play of coin. This device, while it increased his own business, also 
gave to the new village an additional reputation for greater wealth 
and superior resources than was desired by the merchants of the 
two neighboring places. In the open space between his counter 
and shelves, early one morning, he arranged a row of empty but 
headed barrels, upon the tops of which he poured the contents of a 
number of coin kegs, so that the barrels had the appearance of 
being filled with Spanish dollars. One unheaded cjisk filled out the 
row, and into it he emptied another keg of money. Thus prepared, 
the doors of his store were opened for the business of the day. 
During the morning, a Dutch farmer arrived with a load of wheat. 
The price for it was arranged, and the grain stored away. Return- 
ing to the store, Benjamin Covell at once proceeded to pay for the 
wheat from the partly filled barrel of coin. While he slowly gath- 
ered up the specie, ample time was given the farmer to observe 
closely the great quantity of money apparently contained in the bar- 
rels. With an assumed indifference to the amazed expression visible 
upon the face of his rural customer, Benjamin Covell counted out 
over the counter the money due him. Then, as was quite custom- 
ary, he importuned the farmer for a continuance of his trade, and 
also desired him to enlist his neighbors in bestowing upon him, 
or any of the merchants of Troy, the favor of their patronage, 
at the same time informing him that while the merchants of Lan- 
singburgh and of the more remote city of Albany, wore doing a re- 
tail trade in grain and country produce, and were receiving their 
money in kegs, Troy, on the contrary, was doing especially a whole- 
sale business in those articles, and found it advantageous to have 
Spanish silver in barrels. With this exciting information, the Dutch 
farmer, who had been paid a high price for his wheat, wended his 
way homeward, and through him and his friends the news was rap- 
idly spread, of the wonderful advances Troy was making, and of the 
great quantities of money that were needed to sustain its wholesale 
dealings with the surrounding country. 

About this time, Benjamin Covell rode down to Albany one morn- 
ing, and in the street, among the grain wagons of the countrymen, 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



35 



he publicly announced the price he was paying for wheat at Troy, 
which was somewhat higher than that given by the Albany mer- 
chants. The effect was, that while returning home, (as he afterwards 
related the circumstance,) chancing to look back upon the road, it 
seemed to him as if he was in command of a great procession, for 
the economic farmers, immediately on the publication of his prices, 
turned their teams and followed him to Troy, where on that day he 
made a great purchase of wheat and produce. 

No little trouble was occasioned, one season, by a general scarcity 
of Spanish coin. Although every endeavor was made to obtain a 
sufficient quantity in the city of New York, yet the Troy merchants 
were obliged instead to use English crowns, possessing a different 
value from the money formerly current. In the purchase of wheat 
a crown was reckoned at the value of one dollar and ten cents, or 
nine, with an additional Spanish sixpence, were equal to ten dol- 
lars. This dissimilar computation did not appear satisfactory to the 
Dutch farmers, who could not understand any just reason for such 
an equalization of standard values. Explanations were offered, but 
still the Dutchmen were suspicious, and for a time withheld their 
products from the Troy market. 

This peculiarity of the workings of the Dutch mind is illus- 
trated in an incident with which Jacob D. Van der Heyden was 
connected. Al'ter a portion of his farm had been surveyed, he em- 
ployed a form of conveyance similar to that adopted in the landed 
grants of the Van Rensselaers, and sold lots in fee, subject to the 
payment of an annual ground rent. Wait Rathbun, a man of some 
means, from Connecticut, arrived in the village about the year 1790, 
and applied to him for a lot whereon to build. Instead of conform- 
ing to the mode adoi)ted by Jacob I). A' an der Heyden, he offered 
him cash in payment, proposing to become the absolute owner im- 
mediately. This offer was met with a decided refusal, for there was 
something in such a method of dealing very suspicious to the Pat- 
roon. He could not understand why Wait Rathbun should want to 
purchase for cash, when by paying a smaller sum of money each 
year he could as easily become the owner. The conduct of Jacob D. 
Van der Heyden highly incensed Wait Rathbun, and in this mood he 
proceeded to New City with a view of seeking a residence there. 
Dr. Gale and Benjamin Covell being informed of the nature of the 
disagreement, and aware of the monetary benefits which would result 
from the location of Wait Rathbun in Troy, at once called upon 



36 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Jacob D. Van der Heyden, and with much earnest persuasion induc- 
ed him to alter his mode of selling, so as to accommodate the New 
Englander with a lot. Procuring a wagon, the three proceeded at 
once to New City, where they found Wait Rathbun, and after an 
apology from Jacob D. Van der Heyden, an agreement was en- 
tered into between the Patroon and Wait Rathbun, whereby the latter 
became the first occupant of the lot on the northwest corner of 
Congress and First streets. 

Closely following the choice of county officers, the selection of a 
permanent site for the erection of county buildings became a ques- 
tion of absorbing interest to the inhabitants of the rival 
^ ' villages of Troy and Lansingburgh. Each was aware of 
the important local benefits which it would derive from being in- 
vested with the prerogatives of a county town. Lansingburgh, as 
the older settlement, set forth its claims of age and growth, and Troy 
argued that its position was central and convenient of approach. As 
the decision lay with the Legislature, the Trojans, with shrewd fore- 
sight, nominated as candidates for Senator and Assemblymen^ in- 
dividuals of unquestioned ability and of unequalled popularity. 
They named Robert Woodworth for Senator; Christopher Hutton, 
Josiah Masters, Nicholas Staats, Jonathan Niles and Benjamin 
Hicks for Assemblymen. The entire ticket was elected, although a 
mixed one of Federalists and Anti-Federalists, To avoid any ap- 
pearance of partiality, it was announced by these newly-elected leg- 
islators that the village which should subscribe the more liberally 
for the erection of the necessary buildings, would have the prefer- 
ence in the decision. Lansingburgh was quite assured that in this 
particular Troy would not be successful. The Trojans were few in 
number, young adventurers, with no capital, and were already 
weighted with debt. But the prize was worth an effort, and the 
people of Troy, united and zealous, determined to make the most 
of this opportunity for making the village the county seat of gov- 
ernment. Quietly and persistently a subscription paper was circu- 
lated and signed, some men writing their names for more than they 
were actually worth, while others gave generously of their more 
abundant means. No one was overlooked, but every person solic- 
ited. Colonel Albert Pawling, then County Sheriff, often took with 
him the subscription paper as he traveled through the county on of- 

1 The Assemblymen for i79i,were Thomas Sickles, Jonathan Brown, John W. Schermerhorn, 
John Knickerbacker, Jr., and Moses Vail. 












iintr 






^ P;;^^v7«-«^ . -TV- ^7 



7..0 



^j^^^^a^ J^^ ^ /^ -^7 _^ 



^r'-*^*^ 








x:J^/^^--^ c^^^^u^^i^ 






^^^^^^c>^ /rc^ti/ui< ^"a^. 










c^^,^ '^/oLL^ \7^M<P <^.^0^ s , . ^ 



^ 



di<<^. 



/fA) 



1-7^ <^ 
























c^^^ y^^t^t^ ~4^^,, 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. ^il 

ficial business, and when oecasion offered would appeal for aid. 
Once while waiting for the return of a man from whom he thought 
he should procure a subscription, he entered into conversation with 
the gentleman's wife After a while, as he began to enlarge upon 
the merits of Troy as a site for the erection of the county buildmgs, 
he learned to his astonishment that he was within the bounds of an 
adjacent State, discussing a political question altogether foreign to 
the interests of the individual whom he was waiting to see. When 
the Legislature assembled in New York in the wmter of 
1793, the subscription which the Trojans presented, amount- ^^^^' 
ed to one thousand pounds. (See autotype copy ) The site was 
decided in favor of Troy, much to the astonishment and chagrin of 
the people of Lansingburgh. On the 22d day of March, 1793, 
Jacob D. Van der Heyden granted and conveyed to Robert Wood- 
worth, Cornelius Lansing, Jacob A. Lansingh, Benjamin Milk, 
Thomas Sickles, Jonas Odell, and John Wylie, the Supervisors of 
Rensselaer County, as a gift, lots 145, 146 and 147, on the southeast 
corner of Congress and Second streets, whereon the Court House 
was that year erected. 

From this time forward, Troy became the leading village. To 
many enterprising merchants of Lansingburgh it was evident that 
Troy's favorable location and water privileges would now be more 
attractive to eastern emigrants ; that its commercial relations would 
become more extended, and its prospect of steady growth more 
assured, when the county buildings were completed. Several of 
the more circumspect among them, at first came to Troy at night, 
and in the moonlight, selected lots upon which buildings were very 
soon constructed. In a manner equally guarded, they also packed 
their goods, and on wagons and boats removed them to Troy. 
Great was the mortification which these surreptitious removals 
caused the people of Lansingburgh, To check this mercantile exo- 
dus, every possible means of persuasion and argument were ad- 
duced, and specious promises made to those remaining. The greed 
for gain was too powerful, and the business interests of Lansing- 
burgh waned in proportion as the number of its merchants sought 
the advantages which a removal to Troy offered them. 

In 1793 Troy was yet quite rural in appearance. East of First 
street, the land was covered with bushes and scattered trees, except- 
ing that at the foot of the hills the land was cleared and cultivated. 
The warehouses and stores were mostly situated on the west side of 



38 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

River street. A number of dwellings had been erected on First 
and Second streets, but beyond the latter no lots had been sold or 
occupied. Those lots which had been presented to the Presbyterian 
congregation and the County, as well as the approaches to the bury- 
ing-ground on the southeast corner of State and Third streets, were 
thickly grown with scrub-oaks and small pines. These, however, 
entirely disappeared as the land was gradually used for the erection 
of buildings. The storage and shipment of grain chiefly engaged 
the attention of the merchants. Wheat, particularly, was a staple 
article of production throughout the fertile farming region of the 
upper Hudson and the adjacent territory of the Mohawk valley. 
Capacious storehouses were erected along the river, fronting on 
River street, from Albany street (now Broadway,) as far south as 
Division street. From wagons and sleighs loaded with wheat, which 
during the alternating seasons gathered about their portals, the busy 
tackle raised tlie filled bags of grain to the lofts, where their several 
weights were taken upon scales, after which the contents were de- 
posited in bins until the time of shipment. To these cribs spouts 
were attached, through which the grain was conveyed to vessels at 
the docks below. With such facilities, labor was saved, no wastage 
occurred, and no cartage was required. 

In the spring of 1793, a mill for the manufacture of paper was 
erected — the only one at this time north of the Highlands. Paper 
had become a very saleable article, and was much needed by mer- 
chants for wrapping, as well as for writing and printing purposes. 
But the material consumed was very scarce, and the success of the 
mill was altogether dependent upon a constant supply of rags. To 
meet this particular want, every endeavor was made to provide an 
ample quantity. A lengthy and earnest appeal was published to 
induce families, especially the females belonging thereto, to save the 
odd scraps and cast-off portions of clothing, which previously had 
been deemed of no value, and for which three pence per pound were 
offered on delivery at the n^ill. A general support was given the 
enterprise, and the paper manufactured commanded the highest 
prices of the market. 

In February of the same winter. Doctor John Loudon, a young 
physician, having finished the study of physic, surgery and obstet- 
rics, at the University of Edinburgh, and having practiced in Eu- 
rope for some years, came to Troy and offered his services to the 
people. Thenceforward, Doctors Gale and Loudon socially and 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



39 



professionally became very intimate, and their mutual abilities were 
often united to cure the suffering and to save the dying. 

During this year the northern and southern farms were surveyed 
into lots by John E. Van Alen. On the fifteenth day of June, 
Ebenezer Prescott, novv the oldest living male inhabitant' of Troy, 
and who was born July 21st, 1792, was brought by John Barrows, 
from Northampton, Massachusetts, in a wagon, with hi.-; father, 
mother and four other children, to the village. 

The inhabitants, though closely devoted to business affairs, had 
nevertheless, occasional opportunities of enjoying visits of itinerant 
elocutionists and showmen. The character of such diversions is 
fully described in the following advertisement: 

"This Monday evening. May the 20th, 1793, Mr. Moore, who 
performed in Albany about seven years ago, will give one evening's 
entertainment at the house of Mr. Ashley, in a course of lectures, 
when the chaste and delicate ear will find gratification; while mirth 
attends to call forth the Risible Faculties. The exhibition offered 
is entitled the Muse in Good Humor, in four parts; to be preceded 
by an Eulogy on Free Masonry. Tickets 2 shillings and six pence 
for grown persons, and one shilling and six pence for children. 
Doors open at 7 o'clock, and the eulogy commences at half-past 
seven o'clock precisely." 

As early as 1791 the project for deepening the channel of the 
Hudson river north of Albany was considered. At that time, a plan 
for connecting the waters of lake Champlain and also those of the 
western lakes with the Hudson by means of canals, locks and 
dams was devised, and two companies formed to accomplish the 
proposed work. On the thirtieth of March, 1792, these two asso- 
ciations, the Western and the Northern Inland Lock Navigation 
Companies were vested with certain powers by the State Legisla- 
ture. Philip Schuyler, in the month of July, was chosen President 
of the Board of Directors of the northern incorporation. At this 
meeting, a committee was designated to examine the Hudson river 
as far north as Fort Edward, and also the country between it and 
the streams leading to Lake Chami)lain, and to report what works 
were necessary to connect these waters and render them navigable. 
Five years were allowed for the Western Company to comjdete a 

I Mrs. Philena Cook, «f(.' Waters, born in Ashford, Conn., August 3, 1785, came to Troy witli 
her father, mother and four other children, in December of the year 1790. Although nearly 91 
years of a.s^e she is blessed with an excellent memory, and with pleasure relates the e-vperienccs of 
her life in Troy. 



40 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

stated distance, and fifteen to the northern to accomplish a particular 
portion of work. The trade of Albany apparently had been some- 
what lessened by the recent growth of Lansingburgh, and to make 
good this loss, it was necessary to render a greater extent of country 
tributary to the welfare of the Old and New cities. When Troy 
became the intermediate and competing village, the more needful 
and advantageous did the opening and connection of these water 
channels appear. The services of a skillful engineer named Nesbit, 
from Scotland, were secured, and in July, in company with the 
President and the Board of Directors, he examined the river be- 
tween Albany and Troy. But the grand consummation of these 
earlier undertakings did not occur until a third of a century later. 

In the short interval of eight years from the establishment of the 
first store by Benjamin Thurber, in 1786, to the year 1794, Troy 
had so rapidly enlarged the number of its inhabitants, both 
by neighboring and distant emigration, that its population 
was found by Doctors Gale and Loudon, during the prevalence of 
the small-pox, to be between four and five hundred. The political 
and commercial interests of the community began to demand di- 
rection and control, and it was evident these could not be attained 
except through the powers of an organized village government. 
In connection with certain local laws of Lansingburgh, the Legis- 
lature passed an Act on the twenty-fifth day of March, 1794, where- 
by Trustees of the village of Troy were to be invested with authority 
to administer such laws as were most beneficial to the welfare of 
the villagers. The first Trustees were Jacob D. Van der Heyden, 
Samuel Gale, Benjamin Covell, Anthony Goodspeed, John Pease, 
Ephraim Morgan and Christopher Hutton. 



CHAPTER III. 

From the Incorporation of the Village to the Closing Year of the 
Century 1794 to 1800. 

The incessam struggles for ascendancy and the constant vigiLance 
displayed to enhance the local interests of Troy were not only 
crowned with success, but were the means of preparation for the 
commercial strife and greater enterprises of the future. A prudent 
economy began to regulate all the domestic and business affairs of 
the community. Present utility and general advantage were the 
impelling forces which governed labor and united the people. 
Along the unpaved streets no pretentious buildings invited atten- 
tion; the usual associations of the people were marked by no social 
orders of caste, and individual wealth had no controlling influence 
except as it assisted traffic and made improvements. Merchants 
and clerks in the early morning, and' even before the shadows of 
night had vanished, appeared in the stores, and with busy hands 
were opening bales, barrels and boxes, or supplying the immediate 
wants of early customers. From the still darkened lofts protruding 
spouts were pouring grain into the capacious holds of the masted 
vessels cabled to the shore. The blacksmiths' anvils rang out from 
beneath the falling hammers musically upon the morning air. The 
early-rising countrymen, with lumbering wagons, were one by 
one arriving, and bargaining for the purchase of the products of 
their dairies and farms, and the daily stage loaded with passengers, 
rumbled down the street to the ferry below, where a brawny-armed 
ferryman was hastening the steps of laggards by blowing through a 
convoluted shell a hurrying blast. Along the shore were moored a 
variety of water-craft — schooners, sloops and lighters — receiving 
and discharging their differing cargoes. As the morning mists en- 
veloping the river billowed upward into pillared clouds, many of 
these anchored vessels spread their furled sails to the breeze, and 
like passing birds sped quietly away. 

This daily panorama of events was as commonplace m circum- 
stance and coloring as that which characterizes the usual occur- 
rences of any modern village of equal size, but beneath this seem- 
6 



42 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

ing similarity there was always a sanguine expectancy, a positive 
energy, and an unwavering persistence displayed in the accomplish- 
ment of particular purposes, exclusively its own. As a set- 
^'^^'^' tlement, not miitative, but widely projecting, Troy reaped 
the rich harvests of its own considerate sowing. 

Among the various local improvements which already had ad- 
vanced the manufacturing interests of Troy, was the development 
of the water power of the Poesten Kill. The waters of this creek 
had previously flowed to the river in a devious and expanded chan- 
nel, which at certain intervals submerged the adjacent land and 
rendered it untillable. Mahlon Taylor, an observant and practical 
millwright, perceiving the valuable privileges of the stream, pur- 
chased the site of the former saw mill of Sweer Theunissen Van 
Velsen, restored the broken dam, and erected a large flouring mill. 
Upon the same flume he constructed a saw mill, which as soon as 
it was put into operation, became busily engaged in supplying sawed 
timber for the building purposes of the growing village. He also 
excavated a lateral canal at a short distance northward of the nmin 
body of the Poesten Kill, with which, by a series of gates, he econ- 
omized sufficient water to drive the wheel of another flour mill, 
erected at the termination of the canal, near the river. Through 
this water-course he floated the logs to his saw mill, which were 
there converted into boards and other needed lumber. Above the 
mills of Mahlon Taylor, a second flouring mill had been erected, 
near Ida Falls, by Moses Vail, who, as an Assemblyman, had repre- 
sented the interests of the village in the State Legislature, in the 
winter of 1791-2. 

Duke de la Rochefoucault-Liancourt travelling along the Hudson 
river in 1795, thus describes the villages of New City and 
^795- Troy: 

"Two new towns built five or six years ago a few miles above Al- 
bnny on the eastern bank of the river, share this trade. These two 
towns, which have rapidly raised themselves to a considerable degree 
of importance, and are but three or four miles distant from each 
other, carry on the same trade as Albany, with about twenty-five or 
thirty vessels, which belong to them, draw from the back country 
the productions of these fruitful provinces, transmit them to New 
York, take in return European goods, and supply with them those 
parts which were formerly supplied from Albany. The greater dis- 
tance, liowever and less depth of water, are circumstances unfavor- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



43 



able to these new towns. The freight thence to Albany is two 
pence per barrel ; their largest ships are only of si.xty tons burthen, 
and generally cannot take on board more than half their cargo, the 
remainder of which they receive from lighters, which attend them 
for that purpose, in ihe vicinity of Albany. Yet they continue their 
trade, increase daily, and will probably animate Albany to greater 
boldness and activity. New City contains about sixty or seventy 
stores or shops, and Troy fifty or sixty. These new settled mer- 
chants all prosper, and their number is daily increasing. The mer- 
chants of Albany, it is reported, view this growing prosperity of 
their neighbors with an evil eye, and consider it as an encroachment 
upon their native rights. On my return from Saratoga, I crossed 
the northern branch of the Mohawk river by Halfmoon, to see the 
two new towns. New City and Troy, whicli, as has already been 
observed, were built a few years ago, and are already carrying on a 
considerable trade. The houses are very neat and numerous ; al- 
most every house contains a shop , the inns are excellent ; vessels 
are moored near all the keys ; tan-yards, potash works, rope walks, 
and mills are either in full work or building. The sight of this 
activity is truly charming. A Mr. Taylor, who possesses about one 
hundred acres near Poestenkill Creek, has erected here two grist 
mills, two saw mills, and one paper mill." 

The first brick dwelling house erected in the village, by the early 
settlers was built on the north-west corner of Second and Albany 
(Broadway) streets, by James Spencer. As this triangular space 
was at this time divided into lots, it was soon afterwards occujiied 
with other buildings fronting on Albany and on River streets. 

The Presbyterian Church, of which the Rev. Jonas Coe was pas- 
tor, Jacob D. Van der Heyden and Timothy Hutton were elders, 
and Philip Heart was deacon, and whose membership amounted to 
twenty-four persons, held its first communion on the 8th of March, 
1794. Soon afterwards the other inhabitants began to manifest de- 
nominational proclivities, and to form organized bodies of Christian 
believers. Among the first and prominent Baptist families of Troy, 
were those of Silas Covell and Adam Keeling. The former, on his 
removal from Providence, Rhode Island, in the autumn of 1792, 
brought with him letters of dismission of himself and wife from 
the First Baptist Church, of which Rev. Jonathan Maxey was then 
pastor. In connection with several other households, social meet- 
ingci for worship were alternately held ;it their respective ilwe'Iings. 



44 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

As the number of worshipers increased, a room In a building near 
the corner of Albany and River streets was secured, where for a 
year they assembled. Thence they removed to more commodious 
quarters in the store of Silas Covell. On the 15th day of October, 
1795, a regular church organization was effected, and designated 
" The First Particular Baptist Church in the village of Troy." To 
this incorporated body Jacob D Van der Heyden and his wife, 
Mary, conveyed, as a gift, in January, 1796, lot 231, south of the 
burial-ground, and fronting on Third street. 

While the Court House was building, proposals for the erection 
of the County Jail were advertised for by Benjamin Gorton, clerk, 
on November nth, 1794. Until the completion of the jail, a 
strong room in the Court House, with a barred door and grated 
Avindows, was used as a place of confinement. At the same time, a 
pillory and a whipping-post, which had been newly erected, orna- 
mented the Court House yard. On Saturday evening, November 
14th, 1795, corporal punishment was inflicted on the person of 
John Weden. Having been apprehended for horse stealing, and 
convicted thereof, he received as his punishment forty lashes save 
one, which were administered in the presence of an attracted crowd. 

Previous to the end of the year 1795, the following persons, in 
addition to those whose names have already been given, were resi- 
dents of Troy, and were engaged in various occupations ; Nathan- 
iel Adams, Thomas Akin, George Allen, Stephen Atkins, John 
Baker, John Barney, Nathan Betts, Jedediah Bouttell, D. H. Breck, 
Joseph Brintnall, Nathan Clark, William Collins, Stephen Cook, 
Abel De Forest, William De Forest (firm of Wm. De Forest & Co.), 
Zephaniah Filer (firm of Truesdell & Filer,) Benjamin Dickinson, 
D. Latour Dupin, Jonathan Fassit, Philip J. Feller, William Gra- 
ham, Levi Goodnough, John Hamil, Timothy Harrison, Francis 
Hawley (firm of Wm. De Forest & Co.), Hedges, Wicks & Co., 
Aaron Holt, John Johnson, Benjamin Joy, Christopher Laybourn, 
Francis Marshall, Elbanah Martin, John P. Merris, Alex. Moors, 
Howard Moulton, Stephen Moulton, Amos Parmely, Wm. Pendle- 
ton, James Pengross, John Potter, Peter Prentiss, James Rogers, 
James Ross, Lemuel Scott, Ashebel Seymour, John Stillwell, Jona- 
than Truesdell, Herman Twist, Edward Tylee & Co., (formerly Wil- 
lis, Tylee & Co.), Joseph Wescott, John Wheeler, Elbert Willett and 
Nathan Williams. 

Previous to the establishment of post-offices and mail routes, post- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 45 

riding was the favored method for the transmission and circulation 
of letters, newspapers and public notices. Men of considerable 
physical endurance, honest and capable, were at first despatched 
along certain roads and to remote places, by the proprietors of va- 
rious newspapers for the distribution of their weekly journals. As 
this became a regular and reliable means of intercourse with distant 
localities, merchants and other persons were accustomed to entrust 
the riders with letters and small packages for delivery along their 
routes, for which they either unitedly appropriated money or indi- 
vidually paid a small sum. Besides undertaking such personal 
trusts, the post-rider also attended to such other special business as 
he could verbally transact, particularly in those localities where 
were situated the country taverns at which he rested for the night. 

The first post-ofhce north of Albany was established at Lansing- 
burgh, in 1792, and all letters for the inhabitants of Troy were 
usually directed to it. These, immediately after the arrival and 
opening of the mail, were sent down by a boy for delivery. Early 
in the year 1796, a post-office was established in Troy, and Nathan 
Williams was appointed postmaster. He was at that time a student 
of law in the office of John Woodworth, but in after years became 
a Circuit (Supreme) Court Judge at Utica. At the close of the 
year he resigned the position, and John Woodworth was appointed 
to succeed him. 

The inhabitants of Troy were not forgetful of the blessings of 
liberty and the right of free government which they enjoy- 
ed. The particular manner in which they commemorated 
the signing of the Declaration of Independence is quaintly described 
in the American Spy of July 12, 1796 : 

'' The anniversary of the 4th of July, 1796, was celebrated at 
Troy with demonstrations of heartfelt joy and festivity. The clergy, 
a number of gentlemen from Lansingburgh, Waterford, and differ- 
ent parts of the county, united with the citizens of Troy, and form- 
ed a large and respectable concourse of people. The day was ush- 
ered in by the discharge of cannon, which was repeated at twelve 
o'clock, at which time the procession, accompanied by martial music, 
moved from Ashley's tavern up River street, then turned and came 
down First street to the meeting-house, where the procession halted, 
opened to the right and left, and the rear marched through into the 
meeting-house, which was unusually crowded. The business was 
opened with a well adapted prayer by the Rev. Mr. Coe, after which 



46 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

the Declaration of Independence was read by Doctor Samuel Gale. 
An ode, written for the day, by John Bird, Esq., was then sung, ac- 
companied by instrumental music, after which an elegant and well 
adapted oration was pronounced by John Woodworth, Esq., and the 
performance ended by singing a second ode, also written by Mr. 
Bird, and adapted to the occasion. The procession then returned 
by the same route to Mr. Ashley's tavern, where they were saluted 
by a discharge of cannon, under the direction of the Artillery Com- 
pany commanded by Captain John Keating, whose appearance and 
manoeuvres reflected great honor on the discipline. At 3 o'clock, 
P. M., the company, consisting of more than one hundred, sat down 
and partook of an elegant entertainment provided by Mr. Ashley, 
after which appropriate toasts were drank, each followed by a dis- 
charge of cannon. The company were entertained by a number of 
l^atriotic songs, which strikingly called to mind the spirit of '76. At 
an early hour the company dispersed, in perfect good humour and 
with the utmost decorum. In short, we may with justice observe 
that the utmost unanimity and good understanding prevailed, and 
no one was seen who appeared disposed to intercept the harmony 
which so happily prevailed, and bids fair to unite the friends of Lib- 
erty under one standard." 

Among the distinguished soldiers of the Revolution, resident in 
Troy at this time, was Captain Howard Moulton. He had suffered 
the horrors of confinement in the noted Jersey prison ship, and had 
heroically endured other privations incident to military service. 
Possessing some capital, he embarked in the various enterprises of 
Troy, by which he soon acquired property, and became extensively 
engaged in mercantile trade. On the ground now occupied by the 
Female Seminary, he erected a large wooden building, having a 
frontage of forty and a depth of sixty feet, and being three stories 
high. It was fitted up for a tavern, and was known for many years 
thereafter as Captain Moulton's Coffee-house. 

The associative tendencies of the people rapidly developed, as 
year by year the number of inhabitants increased. In addition to 
the two denominational bodies, the Presbyterian and Baptist 
Churches, a third, but not an ecclesiastical society, was organized, 
which at present, like the former congregations, is an association of 
large membership and of good reputation. The inaugural ceremo- 
nies of the institution of Apollo Lodge of Free and Accepted Ma- 
sons, are thus related in a newspaper communication of that date : 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 47 

"Yesterday (Monday, Dec. 11, 1796,) was installed in this village 
a new Lodge' by the name of Apollo Lodge. The officers nomi- 
nated in the charter are John Bird, Esq., W. Master; John Wood- 
worth, Esq., Senior Warden; and Mr. Samuel Miner, Junior War- 
den The ceremony of installation was performed by Mr. James 
Dole, Master of Hiram Lodge, Lansingburgh, together with his offi- 
cers, and some of the respectable and knowing Masons of tlie city 
of Albany, — who, with the members of the new Lodge and occa- 
sional visitants, moved in solemn procession from Mr. Ashley's inn 
to Mr. Moulton's Lodge Chamber, where the ceremony was ])er- 
formed. The greatest decorum was maintained, and the cheerful, 
yet decent hilarity which was excited on the occasion, did honor 
to the principles of the Institution and to the respectable characters 
who composed the company. We have reason to hope the new con- 
stellation will shine with steady and superior light in the galaxy of 
the royal art."- 

The other charter members were Joseph Bacon, vSecrctary ; Mar- 
vel Ellis, S. D. ; Chester Truesdell, J. D. ; Howard Moulton, S. 
Steward; Benjamin Gorton, J. Steward; and Samuel Gale, Jeremi- 
ah Pierce, Jonas Abbott, Elisha Baker, David B. Tynsen and David 
Squires. The by-laws of Apollo Lodge, No. 49, are dated the third 
day of January, 1797. On June 24th, 1797, the Apollo Lodge of 
Free and Accepted Masons duly celebrated the festival of St. John 
the Baptist. Samuel Gale, Jeremiah Pierce and Howard Moulton, 
were the committee of arrangements. The members in a body pro- 
ceeded to the Presbyterian meeting-house, where the Rev. Mr. Coe 
preached a sermon suitable to the occasion. 

These successive steps of Troy's advancement became more 
marked by the establishment of a weekly newspaper. The mer- 
chants were without any means of advertisement except by such 
publications as they were necessarily compelled to make in the pa- 
pers printed in Lansingburgh. Competition in business and local 
differences had naturally embittered the feelings of the inhabitants 
of the two neighboring villages, and hence any mutual dependent 
position was alike distasteful to both parties. In this respect Troy, 
not having a newspaper, had long occupied a position subordinate 
to Lansingburgh. However, an opportunity soon occurred by 
which Troy was released from this unpleasant attitude. 

1 Charter granted by Grand Lodge June 19, 1796. 

2 American Spy, Dec. 13, 1796. 



48 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Luther Pratt and Daniel Curtiss, Jr., in the month of March, 
1796, associated themselves as printers, in Lansingburgh, under the 
name of Luther Pratt and Company. From Sylvester Tiffany, the 
originator of the American Spy, they purchased printing material 
and opened a job office at No. 104 King street. Apparently the place 
did not afford support for two printing establishments, and the new 
firm were therefore obliged to remove to another locality. Fortu- 
nately Troy offered them the needed inducements, and 
sufficient patronage to sustain the publication of a weekly 
newspaper. Their card, as inserted in the American Spy of Febru- 
ary 7th, 1797, thus refers to their removal, and the publication of 
their first paper : 

" Luther Pratt & Co. inform their old customers that they have 
removed their printing material from Lansingburgh to Troy, and 
commenced publishing a newspaper at their Printing Office in 
Water street,' opposite the Ferry, entitled Farmer's Oracle, printed 
every Tuesday at 12 shillings per annum. Troy, Jan. 31, 1797." 

This was Troy's red-letter day. Enthroned at the base of Mount 
Ida, and sitting in the shadow of Olympus,^ the little village re- 
ceived this scepter of its acquired rank with becoming dignity, 
whence weekly thereafter the Oracle sent forth its messages and 
mandates to the busy people. As the inhabitants opened the sibyl- 
line leaves of the Oracle, which declared to them in no uncertain 
words the attending success of each projected plan of future ag- 
grandizement, and gave direction to the vigorous forces of their 
local activity, they gave instant heed to these various charges and 
wise admonitions, and at once began to earn the respect and honor 
to which loyalty to their own interests and enterprises entitled them. 
The pictured oak, spreading its branches between the words of its 
title, — Farmers' Oracle, — like the fabled Dodonian tree of old, dis- 
closed to the merchant the ennobled growth of small beginnings, — 
while in the plough, the rake and the scythe suspended from its 
branches, the farmer discerned the representative symbols of agri- 
cultural success. The carrier boy, as he went along the unpaved 
sidewalks from store to store and from dwelling to dwelling, distrib- 
uting this little blue-tinted newspaper, seventeen by twenty inches 
in dimensions, had no youthful vision of the closely-built streets 
and stately stores of the present city, nor imagined the future poten- 

1 River street. 

2 Mount Ida and Mount Olympus, two prominent hills in Troy. 



:iSTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



49 



cy of the press whereby men were to be moved to lead the waters 
of the distant lakes' to the channel of the Hudson, and to prepare 
an easy passage for hurrying trains through the deep dark chambers 
of a great mountain.^ 

There was no abatement of effort, no halting, no dissensions, but 
instead of these there was combination of capital, a well-tempered 
zeal, a strong will, and a capacity for active undertaking developed 
and employed, which gave to Troy a renewed life and greater pow- 
ers of attainment than it before possessed. 

The influx of eastern emigants continued, and the exodus of mer- 
chants from Lansingburgh was still unchecked. The following are 
the names of some of the settlers whose arrival was then recent : 
George C. Adriance, Daniel Barney, William Bliss, James Boies, 
Alfred H. Brown, Henry Brewster, Samuel Bradstreet, Charles Boyle, 
David Buel (books and stationery) ; Benjamin Carnell, John Car- 
penter, Thomas Davis, James Dole, Lyman and Marvel Ellis, Bela 
Fosgate, John Fuller, George Freiot, William Gilliland, (Sheriff); 
William Hendryx, Daniel Hudson, Thomas Hodgkin, Jonathan 
Hatch, (a noted hatter) , Ebenezer Jones, Abner Keeler, Abel 
King, Joseph Klien, John Knowles, Thomas Lockwood, Russell 
Lord, Townsend McCoun, John McCoun, John Le Moss, Pierce & 
Carrington, Josiah W. Page, Robert Power, Rice & Townsend, 
Captain W^illiam Roberts, Elijah Russell, James Ross, Solomon 
Smith, Henry Slason, Samuel Stillwell, Calvin Sexton, Thomas Skel- 
ding, Thomas C. Talman, George and Benjamin Tibbits, Jacob Van 
Benthuysen, Piatt Wickes, Joel Wicks, Israel Waters (slaughtering 
and packing) ; Peter Welch, Job Whipple, Israel Wells, David Wil- 
liams, Captain Winslow, and James Young. 

The inhabitants of Troy were greatly elated by the sudden and 
unexpected removal from Lansingburgh to Troy of the large and 
prominent firm of George and Benjamin Tibbits. So quietly had 
they purchased the store and dwelling of Abraham Ten Eyck, sit- 
uated on the opposite north corners of Congress and River streets, 
that it was not until a short time before their removal that it was 
divulged to the astonished citizens. Subsequently, James Dole also 
came, and occupied the store of Howard Moulton & Co., opposite 
Capt. AVilliam Roberts' tavern. 

The following paragraph from the Oracle of April 25th, 1797, 

1 Lakes Erie and Champlain. 

2 Hooslck Mountain. 

7 



^O HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

thus refers to the arrival of emigrants : " During the last forty-eight 
hours there have upwards of forty vessels arrived at this port, the 
most of which are from the New England States, with families on 
their way to settle our northern frontiers." 

The Fourth of July, 1797, was observed in. a style quite flattering 
to the inhabitants, and highly commended m the columns of the 
weekly journal. The day was ushered in by a discharge of artil- 
lery. At eleven o'clock in the morning, a procession was formed, 
consisting of about four hundred persons, "with Captain Van Rens- 
selaer's troop of horse in front, with military music, followed by a 
piece of artillery and several of the matrosses in uniform ; succeed- 
ed by Captain Davis' new company of Troy Grenadiers, in uniform, 
with instrumental music. The citizens and visiting gentlemen fol- 
lowed with perfect order and regularity." Proceeding to the Pres- 
byterian meeting house, the ceremonies were opened by the Rev 
Mr. Coe, in a "comprehensive, energetic and edifying prayer." The 
Declaration of Independence having been read, Mr. John Bird 
" pronounced an oration enlivened Avith the rays of genius and the 
sentiments of liberty." The procession then returned "in the same 
order, and preserved the same harmony and dignified decency, to 
the house of Mr. Stephen Ashley, where they partook of a bounte- 
ous entertainment." 

The devouring element of fire had not as yet wrapped its dark 
mantle of smoke about the hills of Troy, nor with ruddy flames of 
sacrifice strewed its streets with ashes. No less startling, however, 
than afterwards to the future people, was the alarm of its presence 
now for the first time heard in the village ; and at this period, as on 
later occasions, the people were as powerless to stay it's ravages. The 
short and concise account of this primal conflagration is in these 
simple words: "On Friday morning, December 8th, 1797, about 
eleven o'clock, a fire broke out in the store of Asa Anthony, on the 
north-west corner of State and River streets, from which it was 
communicated to that of Messrs. P. & B. Heartt, both of which 
were rapidly consumed." The inhabitants, absorbed in their steady 
application to business, had not bestowed much thought upon any 
of the appliances necessary to meet the exigencies of a fire, and 
hence in the present instance they were altogether unprovided with 
the proper means either of extinguishing it or preventing its com- 
munication. However, it was at once decided to form a fire com- 
pany and to purchase an engine. A committee visited New York, 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. c j 

where a second-hand apparatus was inspected, purchased and for- 
warded in a sloop to Troy. 

When the information of the shipment of the purchased engine 
became public, considerable curiosity was manifested by the inhabi- 
tants to witness the workings of this wonderful machine, 
which to many was a novelty, and to which in imagination, ^^^ ' 
they attributed most improbable performances At last the sloop 
made its appearance at the moorings, and the news of its arrival was 
rapidly promulgated throughout the village. Clerks and customers 
deserted the stores ; farmers left their loaded wagons , men, women 
and children hastened to the river to see the fire-conqueror, and to 
inspect the arrangement of its peculiar machinery There before 
their wondering gaze, standing upon the cumbered deck, was 
Premier Engine No. i, gleaming in all the brilliancy of its brightly 
varnished paint. This engine consisted of a box-trough about nine 
feet long, twenty inches high, and thirty inches wide, on which was 
placed at its further end an upright box three feet in height, in 
which pumps and valves were arranged and joined to a horizontal 
shaft, to which in turn ratchet wheels, chains, treadles and hand- 
brakes were attached, which being moved, forced, with consider- 
able velocity, sufficient water through the goose-neck pipe protruding 
from the top of the upright box, to throw a continuous stream an 
inch and a half in diameter upon the roof of an ordinary two-story 
building at a short distance from the engine. It was supported by 
and moved on four solid, wooden wheels, a foot and a half in 
diameter, rimmed with bands of iron. 

To satisfy the general anxiety of the people to witness a display 
of its power, the engine was landed on the dock, and drawn by a 
throng of eager men up into River street, in front of Ashley's Tav- 
ern. All the buckets in the neighborhood were gathered together; 
a double line of men was formed between the nearest well and the 
engine ; two men pumped ; one line of men passed and poured the 
filled buckets into the trough of the engine, and the opposite line 
returned them to be again filled. Six men stood astride the hori- 
zontal shaft, with their feet upon the opposite treadles, and balanced 
themselves by clutching with their hands the right and left support- 
ing bars , while other men, with opposing faces, stood holding the 
smooth handles of the brakes on each side of the engine. Some 
one, an experienced fireman, took his station on the box above, ad- 
justed the pipe, placed his hand upon the nozzle, and gave com- 



52 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

mand to the treaders and brakemen to begin working. These, 
with more alacrity than was needful, turned the shaft too rapidly, 
and consequently very little water was taken up through the valves, 
and none emerged from the pipe of the foreman. This apparent 
failure was evidence sufficient to justify the more expectant and 
least thoughtful of the spectators in a general aspersion of the com- 
mittee who had made the purchase, and many unwise comments 
were loudly uttered in regard to the expenditure of so much money 
for such a worthless piece of mechanism. However, after some 
little instruction from the pipe-man, another trial was made, and 
with better success, except that as soon as the stream began to issue 
with some velocity from the nozzle, the treaders and brakemen, in 
their anxiety to observe the utmost limit reached by the expelled 
water, suddenly relaxed their united movements, and to their sur- 
prise were as suddenly deluged by the shortened stream. This sec- 
ond attempt restored confidence and put everybody in good humor. 
At each repeated effort the rude hand-engine won greater favor and 
esteem from the congregated people, until late in the evening, after 
throwing water upon all the neighboring roofs, and covering the 
sidewalks and streets with sloppy rills and muddy puddles, the en- 
gine was drawn to an unoccupied building, where it was temporarily 
kept until a house was erected for it, on the south side of the Court 
House, fronting Second street, and adjoining the brick building now 
having the street number 86. When the first market-house was 
built in State street, west of Second street, a set of fire ladders 
and hooks, which had been previously purchased, were hung along 
its south and north sides. 

Each holder of property was required by the local authorities, to 
have and to keep hanging in an accessible part of his store or dwelling, 
two leathern fire buckets, whereon were painted his name and the 
number of each bucket. On an alarm of fire, he was enjoined to 
run with these to- the burning building, and there take his position 
in the ranks of those passing and returning buckets. The fol- 
lowing admonitions regarding individual action on an alarm of fire, 
are selected from a printed communication of that period: 

"First, seize the fire buckets immediately, and repair to the spot; 
let the mind be as composed as possible, and at the same time be- 
have with the greatest activity and energy Second, those who live 
most contiguous to the engine, together with the firemen, should im- 
mediately repair to it, and have the engine under way, also the fire- 



HISTORY OK THE CITV OF TROY. 



53 



hooks and ladders and axes, to be on the spot at the same instant, 
and when at the place of action, there oujrht to be the most profound 
silence observed, except from the trustees and fire wardens." 

In 1801, several years after tlie purchase of the secondhand en- 
gine, tlie fire wardens of the village a])peared at all fires with a 
white cover upon the crowns of their hats, and a white staff in their 
hands, as designating badges of their official position. 

Among the sudden and unexpected departures, from Lansing- 
burg, was the removal of the office and materials of the Northern 
Budget to Troy in 1798. In the last number published in Lansing- 
burgh, on Tuesday, May 8th, 1798, there is no reference made to 
any such intended change. It is probable that the Farmer's Oracle 
was discontinued about this time, and that tlie Budget immediately 
succeeded it. Whatever the circumstances may have been, the 
Northern Budget, volume i, number 48, was published in Troy, on 
Tuesday, May 15, by Robert Moffitt & Co., in a building on the east 
side of Water street, four doors north of Pierce's Inn, at the sign of 
Franklin's head. The first Troy advertiser was Mahlon Taylor, 
who informed his friends and the public in general, that he had es- 
tablished a ferry at the lower end of Troy, opposite to that of John 
Schuyler, where he had good safe boats, experienced ferrymen, and 
where constant attendance would be given. Afterwards, in 1800, 
this same ferry came under the control of Asahel House ; and in 
1 80 1, David Williams rented the upper ferry. 

The reception of the news of the re-election of John Jay as 
Governor of the State, by a majority of two thousand, three hundred 
and eighty votes, was celebrated with no little enthusiasm on the 
yart of the people. An account of the enthusiasm exhibited in 
Troy on this occasion is thus communicated to the Northern Bud- 
get of June 9th, 1798: 

'The election of Mr. Jay diffuses general joy throughout the 
State, and the citizens of our village are far from being the last to 
notice so interesting an event. On Saturday last, a great number of 
our patriotic citizens assembled at Mr. Moulton's Coffee House in 
the afternoon ; Captain Davis' company of Trojan Grenadiers were 
paraded in their uniform, and ni;ule ;v very res]jectal)le appe.iranre; 
a salute of sixteen guns was fired ; three cheers succeeded ; a voice 
of ""Long live John Jay, the worthy Governor of our State!" then 
animated the multitude to raise six cheers, which were followed by 
the musicians with the patriotic march, Yankee Doodle. At the 



54 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

going down of the sun, an evening gun was fired, and the citizens 
retired with all those lively and animating feelings which naturally 
rise in generous minds while paying a tribute of gratitude to dis- 
tinguished merit." 

On Saturday, July 8, during a great gale of wind, the Court house 
and Jail were partly unroofed, a number of frame buildings and 
barns were blown down, and other damage done to stores and dwel- 
lings in the village. 

The County Clerk's office, which had been located in Lansing- 
burgh, was on Monday, October 9th, removed to Troy, to a building 
on the northeast corner of First and Congress streets. The Court 
House was first occupied by the Court of Common Pleas on Mon- 
day, the 13th of November of this year. On the sixth day of this 
month, David Buel, having received the appointment of Postmaster, 
succeeded John Woodworth in that position. 

The Assessors for the Seventh district of the Fifth division, com- 
prehending the Towns of Troy, Hoosick, Schaghticoke and Pitts- 
town, were Ephraim Morgan, principal ; Eliphalet W. Close, Joseph 
Alexander, Jacob A, Fort, John Knickerbacker, Jonathan Brown, 
and John Carpenter. Among other things requested of the proper- 
ty owners by these assessors was a description of " the size and 
height of their dwelling houses, with the particular dimensions of 
all the windows contained therein. Also, the size and height of 
their back kitchens, with the dimensions of the windows therein 
contained." They also declared "that in case any fraudulency or 
omissions are discovered in the lists, the offender will be subject to 
a fine of not more than five hundred dollars nor less than one hun- 
dred, to be recovered with costs of prosecution." 

In 1798, Eliakim Warren, with his family, removed from Norwalk, 
Connecticut to Troy. Under the firm name of E. Warren & Com- 
pany, he and his three sons, Esaias, Nathan and Stephen, were for 
many years thereafter engaged in merchandising, and established 
extensive business relations with the surrounding country. 

During the year 1798, all kinds of business in Troy were very re- 
munerative ; the flouring mills had more orders than they could 
conveniently fill ; wheat sold at nine shillings and sixpence a bushel, 
and nearly three thousand cattle had been slaughtered in the early 
part of the season. The prosperous village generously contributed, 
in October, three hundred dollars for the relief of those suffering 
from yellow fever, which disease at that time was extensively preva- 



I 



HISTORY OP^ THE CITY OF TROY. 55 

lent in the cities of New York and Philadelphia. The autumn 
weather was abruptly terminated, and navigation closed, by the 
freezing of the river on the twenty-seventh day of November, and 
at the same time the snow lay eighteen inches deep on the level. 
The municipal affairs of Troy were conducted at this period on an 
economical basis, for only one hundred and twenty-eight dollars 
and fifty cents were required this year for the exigencies of the vil- 
lage, which amount was levied on and collected from the inhabi- 
tants. 

On the ninth day of January, 1799, Troy was deprived by death 
of one of its best and most reputable citizens. Doctor Samuel Gale. 
He had been associated with all of its first enterprises ; and 
by wise suggestion and directive mind, had shown the peo- 
ple the true ways to successful attainment ,* and by his kind, gen- 
tlemanly and professional manners, had obtained not only the 
general respect, but the lasting affection of those with whom he 
mingled. When he died, his residence in Troy had numbered 
eleven, and his life fifty-six years. 

It having become evident that a public market place was greatly 
needed, a meeting of the citizens was called by the Trustees of the 
village, on the tenth of September, to consult upon the propriety of 
erecting a building suitable for a market house. It was resolved 
that the sum of two hundred dollars should be assessed upon and 
collected from the inhabitants to build such a structure. At a short 
distance west of Second street, and in the middle of State street, 
east of the alley, a low Avooden building was erected, about twenty 
feet wide and sixty feet long. On the north and south sides of the 
building sufficient space was given for the passage of vehicles, and 
along these sides, beneath the overhanging roof, were hung the 
hooks and ladders of the fire department. The structure being 
completed, it was opened to the public in March, 1800. 

The educational wants of the community were not forgotten in 
the general stress of business. Select schools were maintained ; and 
on all public anniversary occasions, addresses were made and poems 
read by the leading professional men, which were received with 
marked favor by large and listening audiences. At a very early 
day books of different descriptions, together with a general assort- 
ment of stationery, were to be found upon the shelves of all the 
dealers in mixed merchandise. The printing offices not only pub- 
lished their weekly newspapers, but also printed books for various 



^6 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

authors. The bookstore of Thomas, Andrews & Penniman was the 
first one established in Troy. Here the citizens were supplied with 
all the standard works and choice literature of that period. This 
firm were also the first to suggest to the public a plan for the estab- 
lishment of a circulating library, for, in November, 1799, a subscrip- 
tion list was opened at their store for this purpose in which it was 
announced that the library would consist of one thousand volumes, 
for the use of which each subscriber was to pay annually eight dol- 
lars. To this appeal the citizens generally responded, and a suffi- 
cient sum of money was raised for the purchase of the necessary 
books. Under an Act of the Legislature, passed April i, 1796, a 
meeting was called at the house of Jeremiah Pierce, on Tuesday, 
January loth, 1800, at which the following persons were elected 
" Trustees of the Troy Library " : Benjamin Tibbits, Christopher 
Hutton, John Woodworth, Jonas Coe, Aaron Lane, David Buel and 
Jeremiah Osborne. On the 21st of January, Rev. Jonas Coe was 
elected Chairman, and on the 14th of March following, Zephaniah 
Filer was appointed Treasurer and Librarian, and Jeremiah Os- 
borne, Clerk. 

Among the last of the oldest firms of Lansingburgh to remove to 
Troy was that of Aaron and Derick Lane in 1799. As were all the 
others, so were they also compelled to acknowledge that the site of 
Troy possessed local advantages which the former village could 
never secure, and that all the past predictions relative to the business 
success of the latter, made by observant travelers and by other un- 
biased and discriminating persons, had been gradually, and at the 
same time, rapidly verified. The members of this notable firm, im- 
mediately on their arrival, enlisted themselves in an active participa- 
tion with all the other enterprising merchants for the furtherance of 
Troy's political and commercial interests, and for many years they 
Avere honored with public trusts which they never debased. 

The latter days of the eighteenth century were made a season of 
general sorrow and mourning to the American people by the sudden 
death of George Washington. The Revolutionary ofiicers and sol- 
diers resident in Troy who had been personally honored by the 
great commander, with weeping eyes and woeful hearts, gathered 
together, and in eulogy and commemorative words manifested their 
affection and loss of so good and great a man. At a meeting of the 
Trustees of the village, on the thirtieth of December, 1799, it was 
resolved "That it be recommended to the inliabitants of this villaLie 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 57 

to wear mourning for the space of six weeks from the date hereof, 
in token of the high respect and affectionate esteem entertained for 
the memory of our departed Lieutenant-General George Washing- 
ton, late President of the United States of America." 

On Sunday, January 12th, 1800, "A numerous and respectable 
funeral procession was formed, and moved in a solemn and mournful 
manner to the meeting-house, where the Rev. Jonas Coe delivered 
a sermon pertinent to the afflicting occasion, from this passage of 
sacred writ: 'How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war 
perished.' "' 

I Northern Budget, January 15, iSoo. 

8 



CHAPTER IV. 

Manners and Customs of the People. — 17S6TO 1800. 

The close of the Revolutionary war brought with it many changes, 
both political and social, the effects of which were most apparent in 
the fifteen or twenty years next succeeding. Extravagance in 
fashion, which had assumed a certain degree of permanence under 
royal rule, now gradually passed away. In place of it the people 
began to adopt an unpretentious simplicity in their costume, and a 
more unembarassed freedom in social etiquette. The deferential 
courtesies paid to rank and professional position began to be neg- 
lected, while favor and honor were seemingly bestowed only upon 
individual worth and personal attainments. The English wig and 
twisted cue worn by the men were by degrees abandoned for closely 
clipped or smoothly combed heads of hair. In the fourth volume 
of the Documentary History of New York, are portraits of the Gov- 
ernor, Lieutenant-Governor, Speaker of the House and members of 
the Senate and Assemby of the State of New York in 1798. The 
hair on the heads of many of these officials is represented as 
smoothly brushed, and gathered at the back in a bag. Some have 
long hair which is curled about the neck ; and several have whiskers. 
The appearance of their heads suggests the effect of powder. The 
fashionable cocked hat gave way to other shapes of head covering ; 
the short breeches were exchanged for pantaloons, while leather 
shoe-strings took the place of silver shoe buckles; the ruffled shirt 
was followed by the plain plaited bosom; and the slow dignified 
walk soon changed to the quick, bustling step of business. 

The last among the inhabitants of Troy to dress in these tune- 
honored habiliments were several prominent attorneys and the two 
clergymen, Rev. Jonas Coe, and Rev, David Butler, rector of St. 
Paul's Church. " The rector, who dressed until the close of his life 
in the fashion of the olden time, walked from the old rectory, op- 
posite the Friends' Meeting House, down to the 'church, at the cor- 
ner of Third and Congress streets, clothed in gown and bands. 
His statelv form, passing up the aisle, disappeared within the con- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 59 

tracted robing room, beneath the pulpit, whence he emerged arrayed 
in the surplice for the performance of divine worship." The dress 
of Benjamin Covell, who was a constant and regular attendant at 
the Presbyterian church, was very showy, as was also that of Benja- 
min Gorton, who was, in the early days of Troy, the greatest beau 
in the village. The Sunday attire of the former consisted of a pair 
of yellow top-boots, short breeches, a cloak of fine blue cloth, lined 
with bright crimson velvet, a long gold chain at the collar, powder- 
ed hair, and a cocked hat. Among the farmers and out-door 
laborers leather breeches continued to be worn. Two sheep skins 
were sufficient to make a pair of these serviceable garments. From 
great watches, usually of silver, kept in fobs beneath the protecting 
flaps of long waistcoats, dangled a large seal or key. Bandana 
handkerchiefs were also in vogue. Upon the faces of more radical 
innovators mustaches and trimmed whiskers began to ai)pear. 

The women wore, ordinarily, striped skirts and short gowns, 
bordered caps, ribbed hosiery and low shoes. Matrons had on each 
side of their dress skirt, a long outside pocket made of ornamented 
patchwork or stylish embroidery, of which, keys, a snuff-box, needle- 
book, and a piece of sweet-flag, made up the ordinary contents. By 
the side of these capacious receptacles hung a pin-cushion and the 
accompanying scissors. Evening and party dresses were of costlier 
stuffs, more ample in skirt, and graced with a long train. The hair 
was then, as now, subjected to the involved ingenuities of feminine 
art. It was tufted and curled, powdered and crimped, and upon it 
when perfected in beauty, were placed hats of jaunty appearance, 
or bonnets with great flaring rims. Frequently the female face 
was marked on such occasions with minute patches of court-plas- 
ter of fanciful pattern and attractive outline. 

The formalities of introduction were often lengthy and full of 
complimentary phraseology. Generally, when two individuals first 
met, the form of presentation was in these words : " Mr. Gorton, 
allow me the honor of introducing to you my estimable friend, Mr. 
Andrews; Mr. Andrews, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Andrews" 
In epistolary communication similar conventionalisms and expres- 
sions were used even between the most intimate friends. Letters 
began with "Honoured Sir," "Respected Madam," "Much Esteemed 
Miss," and closed with " Respectfully your humble servant," "Your 
dutiful wife," " Yours ever to command," &c. Very seldom was a 
letter written which did not begin with a statement res[)ecting the 



6o HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

physical condition of the writer, and an expressed hope that the 
person addressed was enjoying all the blessings of excellent health. 

The dwellings of the inhabitants of Troy at this early period, 
even of the more affluent, were plainly furnished. The floors were 
uncarpeted, the walls unadorned, and the furniture was without or- 
nament and generally angular. Frequently, in the center of the 
best room a carpet pattern of three or four yards square, was spread. 
On the brightly scoured floor, between it and the wash board, were 
arranged at uniform distances the parlor chairs. The floor of the 
best apartment in the houses of the Dutch families was statedly 
scrubbed and sprinkled with clean white sand, which being evenly 
distributed, was afterwards traced with various lines and figures. 
Peacock feathers often adorned the mantles and mirrors ; and little 
black profile pictures (silhouettes,) representing the outlined face 
of some relative or member of the family, were suspended in small 
frames here and there upon the bare walls. Upon the hearth of the 
chimney place stood andirons with brightly polished knobs, in win- 
ter supporting large pieces of burning wood, and in summer dressed 
with the delicate green boughs and red berries of the asparagus 
plant. The fire-places of several Dutch houses in the village were 
faced with imported tile ornamented with scriptural scenes and im- 
agery. The best chairs were of various patterns and of different 
woods. Some were straight and high-backed, covered with leather 
and studded with brass tacks ; others had cane seats with broad 
back pieces, whereon were painted griffins, sea views, or fruits ; and 
others again of mahogany or walnut woods were elaborately carved, 
and trimmed with crimson damask, or decorated with embroidery 
and cushioned in velvet. 

The high-posted bedsteads (bedsteede) was canopied with testers, 
the sides hung with white or colored curtains, and the space between 
the bedding and floor was draped around with valances of sundry 
shades and prints. The Dutch matrons prided themselves upon 
the size and softness of their feather beds, which often assumed 
huge proportions. As late as 1816, the largeness of these beds had 
so increased that steps had to be used to get upon them, and among 
some old families in country villages in the neighborhood, beds of 
this description may be occasionally seen even at this time. Great 
quantities of bed linen were usually manufactured in the house, and 
the intricate patchwork of the quilts was ingeniously designed and 
connected. Upon open shelves, often ten to twenty of these quilts 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 6 1 

and coverings were piled up, and were shown to visitors with no lit- 
tle apparent evidence of a certain pride of possession. The "slaap- 
bank," (settle or press bed,) was a chest-like structure about six 
feet in length and height, and about four feet wide. A hinged door 
in front opened outward and downward, upon which and the inner 
flooring, the bed was made. This by day was closed, and the top 
used as a shelf for books, work baskets and similar articles. 
" The chest contrived a double debt to pay, 
A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day." 

A sideboard, brilliant with an array of wine glasses, goblets, de- 
canters and bottled liquors, was one of the fashionable appoint- 
ments of the houses of the wealthier classes. Previous to the great 
temperance movement of the present century, social drinking was 
considered harmless, and men of all classes were accustomed to 
drink the various alcoholic liquids proffered them at private gather- 
ings, and to toast each other, and distinguished personages, in bum- 
pers on all public anniversary occasions. The glass doors of the 
kitchen and dining room cupboards revealed the family china and 
domestic table wares, tastefully arranged therein on the different 
shelves. The solid silver tankard of the more wealthy was also 
often one of the special articles of display in these closets. The tall 
eight-day clock, with its audible tick tack, was an object of partic- 
ular veneration ; and the slow mutations of a painted moon moving 
in an upper disk at the top of the clock, were closely observed and 
studied. This moon, in its varying positions, indicated either an 
auspicious seed-time, or a favorable opportunity for making soap and 
vinegar, or perchance a fitting season for placing shingles upon a 
leaky or roofless house. Dipped tallow candles dimly lighted the 
dwellings and stores at night. Improved lamps and illuminating 
gas were yet among the unknown things of the time. Besides can- 
dlesticks of tin and brass, sconces decorated the best rooms. 
These were rimmed tubes similar in shape to a candlestick, pro- 
jecting from the walls, and supporting a candle, behind which a 
small mirror was placed to reflect a better light. Silver plated can- 
dlesticks were also in fashion, in which wax candles burned at the 
fashionable receptions of the rich. For lighting fires, each family 
was provided with a tinder box, steel and flint. The tinder was 
usually a scrap of scorched linen kept in a small tin box, which also 
contained a piece of flint and a bar of steel, with a ringed end, 
which could hang on the thumb or flnger. By striking the steel 



62 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

upon the flint, a spark was elicited, which faUing upon the tinder, 
ignited it. Soft pine wood, previously dipped in brimstone, was 
then easily set in a blaze from this spark. 

Often, only the lower half of each window was draped with cur- 
tains, which being strung upon a horizontal cord were drawn at 
pleasure from side to side. An ornamental knocker of iron or 
brass was fastened on the outside of the upper part of the front 
door, on which the name of the occupant was usually engraved. 

The earlier inhabitants were generous providers for their tables. 
The Dutch housewives were deeply concerned with the preparation 
of the daily food of the household, and not one of them, even were 
she of the most prominent family, considered it beneath her posi- 
tion to take the personal superintendence of the culinary offices of 
the kitchen. The arts of cookery at this time demanded a capacity 
for a great endurance of heat, and a skill and management of the 
kitchen utensils little known in more modern days. In the open 
fire place, heaped with burning wood and glowing coals, were sus- 
pended iron trammels, cranes and hooks, to which kettles and boil- 
ing-pots were hung. Upon the hearth were flat Dutch ovens, which 
could be heaped over with ashes and live coals ; and here also were 
long handled spiders and griddles, waffle-tongs and revolving spits. 
With such rude cooking utensils, two or three women would pro- 
vide a rich and abundant repast for a great company of people. 
The tables were spread with cloths of home-made linen, and the 
various articles of food were displayed upon it in different uncov- 
ered dishes, and the cups and saucers, with the sugar bowl and tea- 
pot, were placed at the head of the table. A two-tined fork and a 
plain knife, with common bone handle, lay by the side of each 
plate. Bohea tea was more in general use than coffee. It was 
usually served from black earthen tea-pots, but sometimes a silver 
tea-urn decorated the table. It was always deemed necessary for a 
properly provided table to have at least four kinds of cake and pre- 
serves on it. Before and after meals, grace and blessing were said 
and heard in a standing posture. White sugar, at this time, was 
moulded in a tall conical shape, and was known as loaf sugar. 
This was broken, before coming to the table, with sugar cutters, 
and the pieces were placed in a bowl. On small social occasions 
it was customary for the hostess, when pouring the tea, to inquire 
of her guests whether they would " stir or bite" ; stir signifying that 
the sugar should be dropped into the tea, and bite, that a piece of 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 63 

it should be placed in the saucer for the guest to bite, and mingle 
as taste might suggest. 

In some of the commodious Dutch houses, an apartment was fre- 
quently set apart as a dead room. At sundry times it was sub- 
jected to the customary scrubbing and sanding as the best room, 
and then closed until a return of the regular season of house clean- 
ing. The funerals were not only times of mourning, but were also 
occasions of feasting and drinking. Before proceeding to the place 
of burial, the clergyman, physician and pall-bearers were usually 
presented by the more prosperous families with a linen sash, which 
they wore to the grave. This sash, which was about three yards in 
length, was hung over the right shoulder, and after the funeral was 
appropriated by the recipient for shirt bosoms. It was generally 
deemed incumbent upon the family bereaved to provide a collation 
and an ample quantity of various wines and liquors for the enter- 
tainment of those attending the funeral. After the burial, all were 
expected to return to the house, where they bade farewell to the 
mourners and partook of the refreshments previously prepared. 
The quantity of liquor provided was proportional to the means of 
the family. Several instances are known where whole butts of 
liquor were opened and placed for the free use of the assemblage. 
These solemn occasions were often converted into drunken revels 
by the congregated rabble. In time, however, customs of this 
kind decreased in favor, until they gradually passed away, and are 
now almost forgotten. 

The church holidays of Easter, Whitsuntide and Christmas were 
held in high regard by the Dutch inhabitants, and were better known 
to them as Paasch, Pinkster, and Kersmis. The last-named — Christ- 
mas — was particularly the festal day of the children. At this sea- 
son, Sint Nikolaas, or Klaas, the gracious patron saint of all Dutch 
children, made his annual visit, and rewarded their good behaviour 
with gifts suitable to their childish wishes. Pinkster, or Whitsuntide, 
was the great holiday of the colored people. The favorite place se- 
lected by the latter for the enjoyments of the day, was the old parade- 
ground, east of Fourth street, between Broadway and Congress 
street. Here all the slaves and colored people in the vicinity as- 
sembled annually in large numbers. A colored harlequin from Al- 
bany, under the designation of King Charles, Avas the ubiquitous 
master of ceremonies. Booths, for the sale of beer, cakes, &c., 
were erected, and at night lights were suspended from the trees to 



64 HISTORY OF TPIE CITY OF TROY. 

illuminate the scene. King Charles, on his arrival, was seated on a 
huge hollow log, over the open ends of which, skins were tightly 
drawn. By beating this great drum, he timed the movements of the 
dancers, and otherwise gave directions to their various amusements. 
Crowds of white people thronged the common to observe the merry- 
making and to enjoy the sports of the day. Paasch, or Easter was 
also a holiday for children. Great numbers of eggs were colored 
with dyes and the juices of various woods, and each boy and girl 
received his or her particular portion. A special pastime at this 
season was termed picking, or breaking each other's eggs by knock- 
ing them together at their ends, the possessor of the stronger egg 
receiving the broken one. At this early date, the Dutch were the 
only observers of these annual church holy-days. In later years, 
these recurring seasons, observed by many of the churches, are re- 
garded as occasions for the exercise of christian charities and 
friendly hospitality. 

The farmers residing in the vicinity 01 the village were accus- 
tomed to enliven the autumnal evenings with the mingled labor 
and pleasure of corn husking. On an occasion of this nature, the 
entire corn harvest was gathered into two great separate heaps upon 
the spacious barn floors. Two energetic leaders were selected, who 
each chose alternately such of the invited guests as they thought 
best fitted for the assigned task of helping at husking. Each party 
equal in numbers and nearly matched, began the work at a certain 
signal, and both kept on husking until one of the heaps was finished. 
The finder of a red ear of corn was considered as privileged to kiss 
the maiden who had been selected as his partner. The party first 
completing the task were honored with loud huzzas and other 
noisy marks of successful competition. When all the corn was 
husked, a prepared repast was served, followed by a dance and 
other rural amusements of the period. One of the most prom- 
inent features of the farmer's table was the monster pumpkin pie 
which graced it, and which was sometimes as large as the front wheel 
of a wagon. 

The comfort of the body appears to have been but little consid- 
ered by the church-going people of this early period. No thought 
was given to the form of the seats, and in winter no fire warmed 
the interior of the meeting-house. When it was first suggested by 
one or more members that Sunday services in the Presbyterian 
Church in winter would be more enjoyable, should one or more 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 65 

common box-stoves be placed within the cold edifice, the intimation 
was deemed almost sacrilegious. After many discussions and de- 
feats, at length one stove was set up on the south side of the church. 
The introduction of this piece of furniture into the building, 
caused several persons to withdraw their names from the church 
membership. Previous to this innovation upon the old and estab- 
lished usages of the peoi)lc, the pastor, Rev. Jonas Coc, was accus- 
tomed during the winter to preach with his cloak about him, and 
had his hands protected with a pair of striped mittens. Women of 
delicate constitutions were also allowed the use of foot stoves while 
seated in the cold uncomfortable church. As time passed, and 
the opposition to heating the church moderated, the peace of the 
congregation was once more disturbed by a proposition to carpet 
the floor. The decision of this proposal threatened at one time the 
disruption of the association. However, the carpets were put down, 
and as the church was made more inviting and respectable in appear- 
ance thereby, they were allowed to remain But again lowering 
clouds of a disturbing character darkened the clear sky of the 
church's existence, and the congregation was called upon to give an 
answer to a momentous question. The vocal music of the choir 
needed instrumental support, and a bass viol was asked for by the 
choristers. The appellatives similarly bestowed upon organs when 
first brought into use in some of the churches, were heaped upon 
this innocent viol, and it was denounced as " the devil's fiddle." 
After much heated debate, it was decided that a trial of two Sun- 
days should be given it, with the understanding that if afterwards the 
opposition should be continued, it was no longer to be used. Inas- 
much as the bass viol soothed the spirit of disturbance, and pleased 
the people, it took its place in the services of the church thereafter. 
The leader of the choir obtained considerable importance in the 
eyes of the congregation at this early period. With a vibrating 
tuning fork held to his attentive ear, he took the key note of the 
tune, and Avith audible modulations at length led the choir and con- 
gregation through the melody of the selected hymn. The Presby- 
terian pulpit was one of those high, old-time, hour-glass shaped 
structures, over which was a canopy, and on the top of it the figure 
of a dove. In St. Paul's church, " the Clerk's desk, the Lectern, 
and Pulpit were piled up in the form of what was called a three- 
decker." " The responses pronounced by the Clerk were of such 
unearthly solemnity, that it often seemed as if the voices of the 
9 



66 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

whole congregation were rolled into one tremendous and threaten- 
ing utterance. Banished from the Chancel, the Clerk continued for 
a while, from the organ-loft, to make the same resounding re- 
sponses."' It was the duty of the sextons to keep watch over the 
boys assembled in the galleries and back part of the churches, and 
for this purpose they were provided with long rods, with which they 
gave them sundry taps upon the head when unruly or disturbing the 
congregation. The collections were taken up in little bags, sus- 
pended from the end of a far-reaching pole. 

A voyage down the river to New York, in a sloop or schooner, 
was for many years considered a great undertaking. The manage- 
ment of sails and rudders, at that time, was not as well understood 
as at the present day, and often two or three weeks were spent in 
going or returning. Vessels then always sailed in the main direc- 
tion of the wind, and when it was blowing east or west, they were 
compelled to lie at anchor. In a calm, oars or sweeps were used, 
and the vessel was slowly propelled through the water. Samuel 
Wilson, during a period of high water in the river, had occasion to 
go to Catskill, and embarked on board a sloop commanded by Cap- 
tain Abram Nash. The captain, not being thoroughly acquainted 
with the navigation of the river, ran his sloop, the first night, into 
a corn-field. They got it off next morning, and after a three days' 
sail arrived at Catskill. 

The river was full of fish, and sturgeon, bass, shad, herrings, &c., 
were caught in great numbers and of excellent quality. Many of 
the varieties disappeared after building the State dam at the upper 
part of the city. Asa Anthony, Matthias Van der Heyden and Jon- 
athan Davis were the celebrated fishermen of Troy. A favorite 
mode of taking fish was that learned from the Indians. At night, 
with a jack burning brightly at the bow of their boats, they watched 
the river for the attracted fish, and with barbed spears dexterously 
stabbed them and took them from the water. 

The night watch, which patrolled the quiet streets of the village, 
were accustomed to cry '' all's well !" at the expiration of each hour. 
When a building was discovered to be on fire, the loud cry of "fire ! 
fire ! fire!" aroused the inhabitants, and hastened the steps of the 
firemen. When the fire was extinguished, those returning from it 
cried, " all out ! all out !" After the bell was placed in the steeple 
of the Court House, it was rung daily, on week-days, by William 

I Discourse of Rev. Eliphalet N. Potter, D. D., 1872. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 67 

Frazer, at the hours of 9 a. m., 12 m., 2 p. m., and 9 p. m. On Sun- 
days, he rang it also for church service ; it was also rung at all 
alarms of fire. 

The uniform of the militia of Rensselaerwyck, commanded by 
Colonel John Van Rensselaer, in the year 1787, was, for commis- 
sioned officers, " dark blue coats faced with white, and white under- 
clothes." " Each non-commissioned officer and private was dressed 
in a white linen hunting-skirt and overalls, a round hat, three inches 
in the brim bound with white tape, and covered with a piece of 
bear-skin four inches wide, over the crown. The privates were 
armed with a musket, bayonet and cartouch box, twenty-four cart- 
ridges, two spare flint?, a knapsack and blanket." 

In the business and social intercourse of the Dutch people and 
the New Englanders, many of the Dutch terms and expressions 
found their way into the conversation and letters of the latter, and 
are frequently used, even to this day, by newspaper correspondents 
and the descendants of the Dutch families. Among the more prom- 
inent words were the following : 

Baas, (erroneously written bos ) a master. 

Beverwijk, beaver retreat. 

Blicksem, lightning. 

Bosch, a wood or forest. 

Bouwerij, a farm. 

Brief, a letter or bill. 

Burger, a citizen. 

Dijnsday, Tuesday. 

Donderday, Thursday. 

Donder, thunder. 

Durip, a village, (a corruption of Dorp). 

Eiland, an isle, island. 

Handschoen, a glove. 

Haver, oats. 

Helderberg, a clear mountain or hill. 

Hoofdkaas, head cheese. 

Kaas-koek, a cheese cake 

Kerk, a church. 

Kerkhof, churchyard. 

Kil, a channel ; the water between Holland and Zealand is called 
the kil. 

Kreek, a creek or ditch. 



68 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Krib, kribbe, a little bed for children, placed near to that of their 
parents. 

Klopper, the knocker of a door. 

Koekebakker, a gingerbread baker. 

Kool-slaa, cabbage salad. 

Maanday, Monday. 

Nieuwjaars-dag, New Years' day. 

Portaal, a porch. 

Schepel, a bushel, three pecks English measure. 

Spek, pork. 

Spook, a ghost. 

Stoep, threshold-pavement, door steps. 

Stoop, two quart measure. 

Stuiver, a penny, 

Sout, salt. 

Vlakte, a plain. 

Vrijdag, Friday. 

Walvisch, a whale. 

Woensdag, Wednesday. 

Zaturdag, Saturday. 

Zondag, Sunday. 

Zuur kruid, fermented cabbage. 



CHAPTER V. 

From the Closing Year of the Eighteenth Century to the Incorpora- 
TioN OF the City. 1800 to 1816. 

The people of Troy announced the beginning of the nineteenth 
century' in a very memorable manner. Large placards with the 
Arabic numerals 1800 were hung conspicuously upon the fronts of 
the stores and dwellings in the village. Little children, ignorant of 
their meaning, interrogated their parents respecting the signification 
of this display, and were properly informed of the opening of the 
new century. It made a lasting impression upon the minds of 
children living in the year 1800, and is chronicled by the suggestion 
of an individual contemporary with the era. 

The establishment of the Farmers' Bank on the northern bound- 
ary line of Troy was an important benefit to the trade and 
commerce of the village. For many years the merchants 
of Troy, Lansingburgh and Waterford had been subjected to various 
inconveniences arising from frequent expensive and tiresome jour- 
neys to Albany, where they made their money deposits, and secured 
discounts on their mercantile paper. To relieve themselves of these 
inconveniences, a number of them signed a petition and presented 
it to the State Legislature, asking for the passage of an act to enable 
the petitioners therein named to organize a bank with a 
capital stock of three hundred thousand dollars. The bill 
was passed March 31, iSoi, in which the following persons were 
named as Directors : 

Troy. — John Woodworth, Daniel Merritt, Benjamin Tibbits, Chris- 
topher Mutton, Townsend McCoun, Ephraim Morgan. 

Lansingburgh. — Elijah Janes, Charles Selden, John D. Dickinson, 
James Hickok, William Bradley. 

Waterford. — Guert Van Schoonhoven, Samuel Stewart. 

The act also provided that the bank building should be established 
at such place in the town of Troy as Hosea Moffat, Jonathan P^rown, 

I The year 1800 was in reality the closing year of the eighteenth century. The nineteenth 
century began with the year 1801. 



^O HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Tohn E. Van Alen and James McKown, or any three of them should 
designate, and that it should be near the road leading from Troy to 
Lansingburgh, and not farther north than the mill creek nor farther 
south than the house of Joshua Raymond. It was also enacted that 
the building should be so far completed as to admit the transaction 
of the business of the bank by the first day of December, 1801. 
On the ninth of April, at a meeting of the directors held in Troy, 
John D. Dickinson was elected President, and Hugh Peebles, 
Cashier. At a meeting of the board at Jacobs' hotel in the village 
of Lansingburgh, held June 29th, 1801, it was resolved that "Wil- 
liam Bradley should prepare and roll up five ballots with the word 
Lansingburgh written thereon, and five others with the word Troy 
written thereon ; that these should be placed in a hat and shaken 
together by Christopher Hutton, and drawn out by Daniel Merritt, 
being blindfolded, in the presence of the Directors, and that the 
bank should be situated at the village the name of which should 
appear upon the two of the first three ballots drawn." The papers 
being so prepared, the word Lansingburgh was written upon the first 
two ballots taken from the hat. In July, at a meeting at Ashley's 
inn, it was decided to accept two lots in Middleburgh, tendered the 
Bank by Jacob D. Van der Heyden, and to purchase for two hun- 
dred dollars two others adjoining them, and to erect thereon a build- 
ing thirty by forty feet, and a kitchen adjoining eighteen by twenty- 
one feet. In November, the Directors met for the first time in the 
new banking house, and resolved that the Bank should be opened 
for business on the first day of December ; that the business hours 
should be from ten a. m. to two p. m. ; that no note less 'than two 
hundred dollars or over fifty-six days time should be received for 
discount ; that the rate of discount should be six per centum, and 
that the notes offered should be enclosed in sealed covers directed 
to the cashier. With these preliminary actions, the Farmers' Bank 
began its business life in the building, which is still standing, on the 
north-Avest corner of Middleburgh street, near the state dam. The 
business of the Farmers' Bank continued to be transacted in this 
building until the fifteenth day of November, 1808, when the Bank 
was removed to a new building which had been erected on the second 
lot south of the south-west corr^er of First and State streets. The 
Board of Directors purchased this lot from Daniel Merritt for the 
sum of eighteen hundred dollars. 

Evidently, at the beginning of the century, the village officers 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



71 



were endeavoring to regulate the municipal affairs of Troy -with 
commendable discretion and economy. Whether the muliiplicity of 
taverns had become detrimental to the public peace or hurtful to the 
business interests of the place it is not known, but apparently the 
Board of Trustees had valid reasons to influence them to pass a 
resolution declaring that it was the opinion of the Board that ten 
inns or taverns was a sufificient number to accommodate all the 
travelers then coming to Troy. 

For the better protection of property, on May 9th, iSoi, they re- 
solved to apply five hundred dollars and fifty cents to purchase a 
second fire engine, and fifty dollars to procure additional fire-hooks 
and axes. To enhance the appearance of the plot of open ground in 
front of the Court House, and north of Moulton's coffee 
house (now Seminary Park), they voted that three hundred 
dollars should be appropriated for leveling, fencing, planting trees, 
and making gravel walks. 

In the autumn of 1S02 Thomas Collier began the publication of 
the third newspaper ever printed in Troy, under the title of the 
" Troy Gazette." It was issued on Tuesdays, at two dollars per 
annum. Wright and Willbur became its publishers in September, 
1804, and the office of the Gazette was then in "the Green Store 
opposite of the Golden Bell on River street." 

The early endeavors of itinerant preachers to organize a Metho- 
dist congregation in Troy were not as successful as the previous 
efforts of the Presbyterians and Baptists in establishing their 
Churches. Without prestige, and dogmatically opposed to certain 
principles of Galvanism, the introduction of their particular doc- 
trines among the people was attended with no little persecution and 
debate. The exponents of Methodism in Northern New York were 
men of no extended fame, and the newness of their belief was 
thought radical, and their preaching sensational. Lorenzo Dow, in 
his early manhood, came to Troy in 1798, and preached to a few of 
the followers of Wesley, whicli small body of Methodists he again 
visited in the year 1799, and found in a state of revival. Stephen 
Andres, Caleb Curtis, Samuel Goodrich, Benjamin Betts, Archibald 
Gray, and a number of other New Englanders, were among the first 
mentioned Methodists of Troy. About the year 1803, by removal, 
death, and other causes, this small association was broken up. " In 
the year 1805, Rev. Elijah Chichester revived the society and en- 
rolled seven in class." From this time to the incorporation of "the 



7-2 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the village of 
Troy," on the eighth day of December, 1808, preaching and class- 
meetings were held in the various dwellings of the members, or in 
the more roomy hall of the Court House. On Christmas day, in the 
year 1808, two lots, numbers 743 and 744, on State street, near 
Fifth street, were secured from Jacob D. Van der Heyden, at an 
annual rent of thirty-five dollars. The following year a frame 
building two stories in height was erected, which became in a few 
years thereafter a place of worship for a large and influential con- 
gregation, embracing in its membership not only persons residing in 
the village, but people in Albia, at the Nail Factory, Gibbonsville, 
(West Troy), and Brunswick. 

In the beginning of the year 1804, the two Presbyterian congre- 
gations of Troy and Lansingburgh amicably agreed to separate, and 
to assume each an independent existence. Thereafter Rev. Jonas 
Coe was the pastor only of the Presbyterian Church in Troy. 

Among the charitable organizations of this early period, was the 
Ladies' Benevolent Society, for rendering assistance to indigent wo- 
men and children, which was established in 1803. The officers 
were the representative women of the leading families of Troy. 
]Mrs. Eliza H. Coe was Directress ; Mrs. Esaias Warren, 
Treasurer ; and Mrs. Shinah Schuyler, Secretary. The 
Managers were, Mrs. Hannah Forman, Mrs. Sarah Ten Eyck, Mrs. 
Benjamin Tibbits, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Wilson, Mrs. Thomas Skel- 
dlng, and Mrs. Charlotte Bliss. 

The incorporation of " The Trustees of St. Paul's Church in 
Troy," was the result of a meeting held in the Court House on 
Monday, the i6th day of January, 1804. Previous to this meeting 
a few Episcopalian families had assembled occasionally in the 
Court House, where on Sunday, services were conducted by visit- 
ing clergymen of the church. Among those officiating at these dif- 
ferent seasons of public worship, the names of Rev. Philander 
Chase and Rev. David Butler are recorded. The smallness of the 
number of these devout churchmen was the only hindrance appar- 
ently which had hitherto deterred them from building a church and 
supporting a clergyman. Their necessitous condition becoming 
known to Trinity Church of New York, a helping hand was ex- 
tended to this little band of zealous christians, and an annual con- 
tribution was offered them for the support of Rev. David Butler, 
who was afterwards chosen to take the charge of the two Ei)iscopal 



/ 










Of- '^ 






5^./^ 






^i***^^ 






y^i^z^ 






.^v.*^ 



z 









HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. ^ T^ 

congregations in Lansingburgh and Troy. W'itli this needed assist- 
ance, it was at once determined to call a meeting of all those favor- 
ing the organization of an ]^i)iscoi)al Church. The necessary notice 
was given, and the meeting of January i6, 1804, was held 
in the Court House for this ])urpose. At this meeting 
Nicholas Schuyler presided, and Eliakim Warren and Jeremiah 
Pierce were elected Church Wardens, and Nicholas Schuyler, David 
Buel, Lemuel Hawley, Thomas Davis, Thomas Hillhouse, John 
Bird, William S. Parker, and Hugh Peebles, Vestrymen. During 
the same month. Rev. David Butler was also chosen Rector. It 
had been proposed that one church edifice central to the two vil- 
lages of Troy and Lansingburgh, should be erected, but the sugges- 
tion did not meet with acceptance. At a meeting held March 8th, 
1804, it was determined that two lots should be purchased on the 
north-west corner of Congress and Third streets, which at that time 
belonged to John Bird, one of the recently elected vestrymen. 
Daniel Merritt and John McCoun were appointed appraisers at the 
suggestion of the owner, who was unwilling to fix a price upon 
them, and desired that the Church should nominate their value. 
The lots fronted one hundred feet on Third street, and sixty-five 
feet on Congress street, and the committee named their valuation at 
four hundred and twenty-five dollars. The building committee con- 
sisting of David Buel, Thomas Davis and Nicholas Schuyler were 
ordered "to contract with proper workmen to put up the building 
of the church, the frame to be well put up and filled in with brick, 
one thick." On the twentieth day of April, Lemuel Hawley and 
Jeremiah Pierce changed places, the former having been chosen a 
warden and the latter a vestryman. Daniel Jones was elected a 
vestryman in place of William S. Parker, who became treasurer and 
clerk. The following notice of the laying of the corner-stone, on 
th2 second day of July, appeared in the Albany Gazette of July 
3d, 1S04: 

" It cannot but be pleasing to the friends of religion to notice the 
ardour for erecting convenient places of public worshij), which at 
present actuates the citizens of this flourishing village. This ar- 
dour is not confined to any particular sect or class of worshippers, 
but seems equally difi'used through all classes, which exhibits itself 
in their liberal subscriptions for the erection of churches the present 
season. Yesterday morning at ten o'clock the Rev. David Butler, 
accompanied by the Rev. Mr. CoC; pastor of the Presbyterian 
10 



74 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Church, and a respectable number of citizens, formed in procession 
and proceeded to the spot destined for the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, and with the usual exercises of prayer, vocal and instru- 
mental music, &c., laid the corner stone, upon which to build an 
edifice for the public worship of God." 

The building was erected during the year, and early in the sum- 
mer of 1805 the church was completed. The sittings of the 
^' church were disposed of in the following manner, as pub- 
lished in the Northern Budget of June 18, 1805 : 

" The pews and seats in St. Paul's Church will be sold at public 
vendue on Wednesday, the 26th inst., at the church, at ten o'clock 
in the forenoon. The conditions are, one-quarter of the purchase 
money to be paid when the lease is executed, — one-quarter in six 
months, — one-quarter in twelve months, and the last quarter in 
eighteen months from the date, with interest ; a note with a good 
endorser to be executed immediately after the sale ; each pew or 
seat subject to a certain annual rent for the support of the Rector. 
Those who have subscribed and paid towards the building of the 
church, or towards the purchase of the organ, will have the sum 
paid deducted from the pew or seat they purchase. By order of 
the Vestry. William S. Parker, Treasurer. 

" June 17, 1805. 

On the day of the publication of this notice, Bishop Benjamin 
Moore granted the Rev. David Butler his letter of institution into 
the Parish of St. Paul's Church in Troy, and on Wednesday, Jan- 
uary 8, 1806, he was instituted according to the office then in use 
in the church, by the Rev. Frederick Beasley, of Albany, assisted 
by the Rev. Frederick Van Home, of Ballston, and the Rev. Cyrus 
Stebbins, of Schenectady. On the day thereafter he was inducted 
as Rector also of Trinity Church in Lansingburgh. From this 
time he officiated regularly, twice each Sunday, once in Troy, and 
once in Lansingburgh, except on every fourth Sunday, when he 
officiated once in Waterford. On the twenty-first day of August, 
the Right Rev. Bishop Moore consecrated the church, and desig- 
nated it by the name of St. Paul's Church. In the afternoon about 
seventy persons were added to the Church by the rite of confirma- 
tion, which at the beginning of the organization only numbered 
three communicant members, namely, Eliakim Warren and wife, and 
Lemuel Hawley. The organ, which had been placed in the building 
at its completion, was constructed in England, and had been used 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 75 

in the old French Church in New York. For two decades it was 
the only organ in Troy, and probably in the county. The desk of 
the Parish Clerk was immediately below that of the minister, as in 
old English churches. The Canticles were always read until the 
enlargement of the church, at which time, to compromise with some 
of the dissatisfied members respecting the new innovation of chant- 
ing them, an order was adopted in the service by which but one of 
the Canticles was chanted, either the Vcnite or Jubilate, and also 
the same at the evening service. Later, all the Canticles were sung 
except the Te Dcuni, which hymn of praise was never sung in the 
old brick edifice, while occupied by St. Paul's congregation. 

In the winter of 1803-4 a project of bridging the Hudson river at 
the foot of Ferry street, was enthusiatically discussed, and 
legislative action was sought by those most directly inter- 
ested. A bill for this purpose was passed on the ninth day of April, 
1804, by the Legislature, constituting George Tibbits, Jacob D. 
Van der Heyden, Ephraim Morgan, Daniel Merritt, Thomas Hill- 
house, John Woodworth, Derick Lane, Philip Heartt and Esaias 
Warren, directors. This bridge company had corporate powers 
granted it for a period of seventy-five years ; the number of shares 
were not to exceed three thousand, at fifty dollars per share ; after 
the completion of the bridge no other one could be erected within 
two miles of it ; the bridge was to be at least twenty-five feet wide, 
covered with a flooring of plank not less than three inches thick, 
and the sides to be secured by good and substantial railings, not less 
than four feet in height. This project was not carried into execu- 
tion, and it was not until many years after, that a bridge was con- 
structed across the Hudson at Troy. 

Among the denominational associations which began a career of 
usefulness and regenerative influence early in the present century, 
was the Friends' Society of Troy. The Quaker element of that 
day was represented by some of the most prominent settlers, whose 
solid worth and business energy gave Troy both credit and growth. 
It was not until about November, 1803, that a local organization 
was effected ; previous to this time, several private meetings only 
had been held by permission of the Easton Monthly Meeting at the 
residences of some of the Friends in Troy and vicinity. One of 
these meetings, held in the capacious barn of Zachariah Garnryck, 
a short distance from the village, north of the Hoosick road, and 
east of the Lester farm, is thus described by Joseph Brintnall, a 



76 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

leading Quaker of the period. The barn was a large one, having 
a high, double-pitched roof, which extended three-fourths the dis- 
tance downward from the ridge-pole to where it met the upright 
sides. It faced to the east, and through the middle of the struc- 
ture, a little above the ground on which it stood, the threshing floor 
extended from front to rear. This had been swept with care, and 
seats were arranged upon the sides of the enclosure for the accom- 
modation of the meeting. There were present more people than 
could be provided with seats inside, and such as could not be thus 
accommodated found sitting places upon the sills and sides of the 
front platform, which led up on an incline from the ground to meet 
the level of the floor. Those present, as remembered, were Daniel 
Merritt and wife, Jacob Merritt, Zachariah Garnryck and family, 
John Gifford and v/ife. The latter preached to the assembled 
friends, and the meeting proved a source of great satisfaction to 
those present at the time. The men wore broad-brimmed hats, and 
wooden buttons on their coats." This meeting was followed by 
others, and afterwards the Society met at stated periods in a build- 
ing of Josiah Chapman on Ferry street. 

About the year 1804, Daniel and Jacob Merritt were the possessors 
of the lot on the south-west corner of Fourth and State streets, 
which had on it at that time a double tenement house, built of wood 
and in an unfinished condition. This property was commended to 
them as a suitable location for a meeting house. The matter of 
purchasing it was referred to a committee, which reported in April, 
1806, that the terms of Daniel and Jacob Merrit, who offered the 
house and lot for twenty-three hundred dollars, the house to be fur- 
nished with out-houses, and the lot to be fenced, should be accepted. 
It appears that no immediate action was had upon the acceptance of 
the report, other than that the Society rented the premises at one 
hundred dollars per annum, until October 7th, 1807, when the lot 
was deeded to Edward Southwick and Abraham Staples, Trustees 
of the Society, for the sum reported by the committee. As the pro- 
perty of the local Meetings was held by the Monthly Meeting, these 
Trustees deeded the lot and buildings to Joseph Brintnall of Troy, 
Lewis Tabor of Easton, and Adam Allen of Cambridge, Trustees 
of the Easton Monthly Meeting. The meetings of the Society of 
Friends were at this period distinguished by four different names, 
each name being characteristic of the Meeting designated. These 
Meetings were : the local or Preparatory Meeting, the Monthly 



HISTORY OP^ THE CITY OF TROY. 77 

Meeting, the Quarterly Meeting, and the Yearly Meeting. The 
Society here was called the Troy Preparatory Meeting, which was 
connected with the Monthly Meeting held in Easton, and the Year- 
ly Meeting in New York City. The more prominent Friends were 
Robert Barton, Thomas Betts, Joseph Brintnall, Josiah Chapman, 
Job Collins, Zachariah Garnryck, John Gifford, James and Robert 
Hagen, Charles Hurstfield, Aaron Jones, Daniel, Jacob and Isaac 
Merritt, Jonathan Mabbitt, Samuel Peckham, Abijah Purington, 
William Renouf, Alfred Richardson, Edward Southwick, Abrara 
Staples, Nathaniel Starbuck, and John Williams. An incident is 
narrated v/hich illustrates the manner in which they enforced and 
practiced what they believed and professed. A member had been 
reported as selling liquor, contrary to the discipline of the Society. 
He was called before a business meeting, where he did not satisfac 
torily answer the questions propounded. A committee was at once 
appointed to visit him at his warehouse. Liquor was found, and he 
was at once disowned by the offended Friends. This occurred be- 
fore the day of temperance organizations, and shows the early posi- 
tion taken by the Quakers respecting the sale of spirituous liquors. 

In the year 1804, Dr. Moses Hale came to Troy as a physician 
and surgeon. A man of remarkable intelligence and a lover of sci- 
entific pursuits, he afterwards became greatly honored for 
his active participation in the establishment and prosperity 
of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History. This same year Abram 
Nash arrived in the village. He became engaged in carpentry, and 
was for a number of years a partner of Leander Childs, as a builder 
and contractor. 

On the 27th day of April, 1805, the book and stationery firm of 
Obadiah Pennimair & Co. dissolved. Sylvanus J. Penni- 
man went out of the firm, which was continued under the 
former name by the remaining partners, Obadiah Penniman and 
William S. Parker. The latter shortly afterwards became sole owner 
of the business. 

The city authorities this year resolved to have street names on 
boards erected at the corners of certain streets, and twenty-five 
dollars was appropriated for the purpose. 

Imprisonment for debt was one of the early features of the laws 
of the State of New York, and the Troy jail appears not only to 
have been well filled with these impecunious prisoners, but to have 
been also a place of suffering and physical distress. The weekly 



yS HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

newspaper of August 13th published this card, which was evidently 
truthful in fact, as no contradiction was made to the asserted poverty 
and want of the prisoners at the time of its publication : 

" To THE Humane and Benevolent. — It is through real neces- 
sity that the debtors in jail make known their situation to the public. 
With diffidence they solicit the citizens to help them so far as to 
keep them from hunger; as the law gives no relief, and consequent- 
ly, if unable to help themselves and unassisted by a charitable com- 
munity, they must inevitably starve. One of their number is two 
hundred miles away from his friends and family, without money or 
credit. 

" They tender their grateful acknowledgements to a number of 
families, who have given them repeated assistance. Broken meat, 
&c., and many things which go to waste, would greatly relieve them, 
and be received with heartfelt gratitude. Troy Jail, Aug. 13, 1805." 

Previous to the day of glittering caravans of wild-beasts, mena- 
geries and circuses, one or two wild and strange animals were taken 
about the country on exhibition. These were generally exhibited 
at some leading hotel for a number of days. The Troy Gazette of 
October 8, 1805, advertises with a wood-cut of an elephant, the 
following : 

" A Live Elephant. — To be seen in the village of Troy, at the 
house of Howard Moulton, from Tuesday morning the 8th of Octo- 
ber inst., where she will continue till Thursday evening, the loth. 
Price of admission, twenty-five cents, children half price." 

The surroundings of a Troy tavern are fully described in the ad- 
vertisement which follows : 

" House of Entertainment. — The subscriber has opened, at the 
north end of the village of Troy, a Tavern, sign of The Hart, nearly 
opposite A. Smith's inn, where he calculates to keep a still, civil 
house, and the best attention given those who please to call. Con- 
stantly on hand, the best of Hay ; good stable room sufficient for 
thirty spans of horses; good and safe yards for wagons and sleighs; 
good store room for goods that are moving. 

" He also intends keeping a Register-book, in which he will make 
a memorandum of goods left in this village to be carried into the 
country ; so that merchants or teamsters may by inquiring, get in- 
formation gratis. 

" Rules of the House : No profane language ; no noisy, quarrel- 
some fellows; no fighting or threatenings; no gambling, which is the 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 79 

foundation of the above profanities. Horses kept for three shillings 
a night per span. Troy, Dec. 3, 1805. 

Moses Craft." 

With this provident landlord, and such conveniences of entertain- 
ment, "The Hart" was doubtless frequented and patronized by com- 
mercial travelers and general wayfarers. 

A tavern, located where the Troy House is now situated, was in 
1806 kept by Piatt Titus. Connected with it was a stage office, and 
two stages left its doors daily for Albany. This inn, like Ashley's 
in the early history of the village, became noted afterwards as an 
excellent house of entertainment, a public place of local resort, and 
where the village and city authorities held their meetings, and where 
Apollo Lodge possessed a room known as St. John's Hall. 

The appearance of Troy in 1806, its progress and prospects, are 
very explicitly set forth in an article published in the Troy 
Gazette, in the month of June of that year. This descrip- 
tion is in keeping with the predictions of the visiting foreigners 
heretofore mentioned, and presages the destiny of the struggling and 
growing vil]j,ge, with an assurance of language which is almost 
prophetic: 

''The buildings are chiefly situated in River, First, Second and 
Third streets. The lots in those streets are taken up, and with some 
exceptions, occupied with buildings; and many lots, especially in 
River street, have two, and some 'three buildings in front. Fourth 
street already contains several buildings and many inhabitants ; 
several new and good buildings are soon to be put up there, as the 
lots are taken up and considered very valuable. Fifth street has 
but few houses as yet ; and but few of the lots in Sixth street are 
taken up. The village lots were mostly laid out one hundred and 
forty feet deep, and fifty feet front on the streets running north and 
south; an alley twenty feet wide separates them in the rear. Six 
hundred and eight lots are already laid out on the estate of Jacob 
D. Vanderheyden, and several more on the land further south. All 
the lots that lie on the cross streets will afford at least two additional 
house lots, should the population of the village ever require, or the 
high price of building lots tempt the subdivision of them, a thing 
no way improbable. Even the lots, fronting the other streets, only 
may afford two building lots, as has been the case with many of 
them already — so that the land of Jacob D. Vanderheyden will ad- 
mit of the erection of fifteen or sixteen hundred dwelling houses 



8o HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

and stores, together with out-houses sufficient for the same. The 
land at the south part of the village will afford building lots even to 
the bounds of the corporation, by bringing earth from the hill 
which is near. The land north of Division street will make good 
building lots to the north bounds of the village, as incorporated. 
As circumstances require, therefore, the village will extend about 
two miles on the river, and half a mile back — affording room for 
four or five thousand houses and their requisite out-buildings. To 
this may be added the hill on the east, which with the same expense, 
Avould afford as good building lots as those on the hill and its de- 
clivity in the city of Albany, which already constitute nearly half of 
the city. At the middle and upper parts of the village, the hill is 
neither very rough nor steep ; and even where it is so, it will gradu- 
ally be leveled and smoothed down, as there is now, and will for 
many years to come be wanted immense quantities of earth to make 
docks (or wharves) to form another street below River street on the 
head of the docks, and to raise and prepare the ground for build- 
ings, yards. Sec, in those parts of the village where the land is low 
and wet. The bounds of the corporation may moreover be extended 
eastwardly to a great distance if necessary, and perhaps, northerly ; 
which is not, however, probable now, though possible hereafter, 
The village was incorporated by an act of Assembly in April, 1801, 
and its bounds were altered in 1803, so far as to extend from the 
Poesten Kill on the south, to a small creek on the north, which is 
also the south bounds of the village of Lansingburgh. On a peti- 
tion of the inhabitants, a new act of incorporation was passed at 
the last session of the Legislature of the State, vesting in the Presi- 
<ient and Trustees powers competent to the enacting and vigorous 
enforcement of such laws and ordinances as shall be deemed con- 
ducive to the interests, peace and safety of the inhabitants witlun 
the corporation. There are in the village, four houses of public 
worship, belonging to four congregations; viz: one for Presbyterians, 
one for Episcopalians, one for Friends, and one for Baptists. The 
Presbyterian meeting house was built in 1792; St. Paul's, with a 
good organ, in 1804; the Friends' meeting house in 1804, and the 
Baptist meeting house in 1805." 

The wards of the village in this year were divided by the follow- 
ing limits : 

First Ward. — From the south limits of the city (the Poesten Kill) 
to a line drawn through the center of Ferry street. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. gj 

Second Ward— From Ferry to the center line of State street. 

Third Ward. — From State street to the center line of Elbow 
(Fulton) street. 

Fourth Ward.— From Elbow street to a line drawn due east 
from the mouth of the creek on which J. D. Vanderheyden's mill 
stood. 

The village Trustees this year determined to remove the old mar- 
ket house from State street, and to purchase a lot on the north-west 
corner of Third and State streets for the erection of a suitable 
building. An appropriation of one thousand dollars was made for 
this purpose. 

On the first day of July, 1806, the Rensselaer County Medical 
Society was organized, which for many years had, and still has, for its 
membership, the leading physicians in Troy and its vicinity. The 
first officers were: Dr. Benjamin Woodward, President; Dr. John 
Loudon, Vice-President; Dr. Samuel Gale, Treasurer; Dr. I. M. 
Wells, Secretary ; Doctors Ely Burritt, Moses Willard, Hezekiah 
Eldridge, Daniel Doolittle, Benjamin Rowe, Moses Hale and Aaron 
D. Patchin, Censors. 

The legal profession was represented by a small circle of attorneys. 
The most prominent in addition to those heretore mentioned were 
Jeremiah Osborne, a partner of Judge John Woodworth. The lat- 
ter was appointed Attorney-General of the State, on the 3d of 
February, 1804, and in 1806 removed his residence to Albany. 
Their office was on the east side of First street, two doors north of 
Ferry street. Samuel Starr and Daniel Jones were members of a 
prominent law firm, as also were Ebenezer Foote and Levi Rumsey. 
William M. Bliss, John Russell and Ruggles Hubbard were leading 
lawyers about this time. Daniel Hall, a graduate of Middle - 
bury College, entered the office of William M. Bliss at the age of 
nineteen. William L. Marcy of Massachusetts entered the same 
office in iSoV, and John P. Cushman a year afterward. Daniel 
Hall was admitted to practice October 3d, 1809, and William L. 
Marcy and John P. Cushman remained in Mr. Bliss's office until 
the former had taken his diploma in 1810. Amasa Paine removed 
to Troy from Windsor, Vermont, in 1807, and immediately com- 
menced the practice of the law. After Daniel Hall had been admit- 
ted, Amasa Paine (who was his uncle) and he formed the law firm 
of Paine & Hall, which continued until May 14, 1814. Archibald 
Bull entered Jeremiah Osborne's office in 1807, and continued with 
II 



A' 



82 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

him until the latter becoming involved in a personal difficulty depart- 
ed from Troy. Archibald Bull then removed to John Russell's 
office, where Reuben H. Walworth was a reading clerk. Ebenezer 
Wilson, Jr., was a student in Starr and Jones's office. John A. 
Collyer, afterwards State Controller, was also studying in the same 
office. Stephen Ross and Alanson Douglass were also among the 
leading lawyers of that day. The majority of these counselors sub- 
sequently attained high positions in the offices of the State and 
nation, and were seldom excelled in brilliancy of thought, legal 
acumen, and forensic elequence. 

It was not an uncommon sight to see bands of wandering Indians 
in the streets of the village at this day. The Stockbridge tribe 
was more generally represented than any other of the aboriginal 
people of Northern New York, for they were claimants of the terri- 
tory of Rensselaerwyck on the eastern side of the Hudson river, 
and in this respect were more in favor with the people than the 
Mohawks of the western side. Often scenes similar to the one de- 
scribed in the Troy Gazette of July 8th, 1806, occurred in the vil- 
lage, and caused the people considerable apprehension as to the 
direful consequences which might on some occasion result from 
them. " On Friday last, the Fourth of July, in this village, two 
Indians, we believe of the Stockbridge tribe, many of which daily 
throng our streets, fell into dispute about the ' gestion ' of some of 
their moral matters, on which it is understood they have been some- 
what at variance. Participating largely in the liberty and liquor 
which usually warms the breasts of independent and unshackled 
patriots of all professions on the Fourth of July, and not submitting 
themselves to any laws, gave a savage specimen of their being supe- 
rior to civilized people ; — first, the eldest by stabbing the younger 
with his long knife in an oblique direction below the short ribs, sev- 
eral inches deep ; and next, the wounded one (while others of the 
tribe used their bows and arrows,) knocked his assailant down, 
broke his skull with a heavy stone, and beat him with his bow. It 
was thought he was killed, but in a few minutes he was up and 
walked. But as their wounds were so bad that not more than one 
of either is expected to recover, it was thought best not to trust to 
contempt for punishing them, but to confine them at least for awhile. 
So these sheep, so much happier of themselves, were taken into cus- 
tody by the wolves." After being committed to the jail. Dr. Jolm 
Loudon was sent for, who trepanned the skull of the older Indian, 



HISTORY OF THE CrrV OF TROY. 83 

and removed the broken parts. Before beginning this painful ope- 
ration, it was suggested to the Indian that it was necessary that he 
should be bound, so as not to disturb the surgeon by any movement 
of his body while operating upon his head. The savage scornfully 
refused to be tied, and, with great stolidity of manner, sat unmoved 
during the Doctor's manipulations. 

The enterprise of the Troy book publishers is exhibited in the 
following literary notice : "American Edition of Hudibras. The 
subscribers have just put to press, and will have ready for sale in 
the spring, a new (and they believe the first American) edition of 
Hudibras, &c. Troy, Jan. 14, 1806. Wright, Goodenow & Stock- 
well." 

The editorial pen of a weekly journal, like the bolts of Jupiter, 
discharged its wrath upon a few undutiful individuals who did not 
perform the obligations incumbent upon them at a fire 
which had lately occurred in the village, in these words : 
" We cannot refrain, however, from insisting that we need another 
engine and a heavy bell ; an engine at least, to play upon a set of 
things in the shape of men, that lurk about the sunny side of houses 
at a distance, to see their neighbors' houses burn, as if they feared 
they should be burned themselves, and while we cannot but applaud 
a number of women who most nobly volunteered to pass the buck- 
ets, we think that in future they would do well first to put certain 
men safely to bed at home, to keep them out of sight and out of the 
way of those who have some feeling for their neighbors, and to 
women, or for themselves." The women mentioned in this article 
are thus publicly thanked by the village authorities. " The ladies 
of Troy, who handed the empty buckets, will please receive the 
thanks of the President. March 24, 1S07. Edward Tylee, Presi- 
dent of the Village." 

While Troy was in such ways concerned with its own local affairs, 
the great world of men was busy elsewhere, struggling to advance 
the general interests of trade and commerce. The application of 
steam for the propulsion of water craft inaugurated an era of events 
great and important to the people living along the waters of the 
Hudson river. In September of this year Robert Fulton, with his 
new steamboat, the Clermont, was making regular trips between Al- 
bany and New York. This boat which was originally one hundred 
feet long, twelve wide and seven deep, was lengthened in 1808 to 
one hundred and fifty, and widened eighteen feet, and the name was 



84 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

changed to " The North River." It is thus described by the Hud- 
son Bee, in 1808 : " The steamboat is certainly an interesting cu- 
riosity to strangers. To see this large and apparently unwieldy 
machine without oars or sails, propelled through the element by in- 
visible agency, at a rate of four miles an hour, would be a novelty 
in any quarter of the globe, as we understand there is none in Europe 
that has succeeded on the plan upon which this is constructed. The 
length of the boat is one hundred and fifty feet, and her width in 
proportion, so as not to impede her sailing. The machine which 
moves her wheels is called, we believe, a twenty-horse machine, or 
equal to the power of so many horses, and is kept in motion by 
steam from a copper boiler eight or ten feet in length. The wheels 
are on each side, similar to those of water mills, and under cover ; 
they are moved backwards or forwards, separately or together, at 
pleasure. Her principal advantage is in calms, or against head- 
winds When the wind is fair, light square sails, &c., are employed 
to increase her speed. Her accommodations, (fifty-two berths, be- 
sides sofas, &c.,) are said to be equal or superior to any vessel that 
floats on the river, and are necessarily extensive, as all the space oc- 
cupied by the machinery is fitted in the most convenient manner. 
Her route between New York and Albany is a distance of one hun- 
dred and sixty miles, which she performs regularly twice a week, 
sometimes in the short period of thirty-two hours, exclusive of de- 
tention by taking in and landing passengers On her passage last 
week she left New York with one hundred passengers, and from 
Albany with eighty to ninety." 

The steamboat Fire Fly was the first boat of the kind that plied 
between Albany and Troy. It was built in 1812, and commenced 
running between the two places in September of that year, making 
two trips daily. Perhaps sometime previous to the Fire Fly, another 
boat was plying between Troy and Albany, but of her character 
nothing is known except what may be gleaned from the following 
statement in Munsell's "Annals of Albany": "The passage boat 
Trial, moving by machinery invented by Abraham Randal, of the 
town of Colonie, was advertised to again begin her course on the 
14th of May, between Albany and Troy, twice a day, at two shil- 
lings each passenger trip. The boat would be let to select parties 
in the evening for three dollars." From this time onward, Troy 
was allowed the choice of sail or steam vessels for passage and 
freight to and from New York. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 85 

Among the early military organizations of the village were the 
Troy Fusileers and the Troy Invincibles. The first company wore 
blue coats with red facings, collars and cuffs , white pants, a helmet 
with an open ridge on top, in which lay a black ostrich feather 
drooping toward the front, and on the side was an upright white 
feather with a red tip ; and a black leather stock supporting the 
chin of the soldier. The officers of this company were Nathaniel 
Adams, Captain; Amos Salisbury, Lieutenant, and Oliver Lyon, 
Ensign. The Invincibles were commanded by Captain Guilford D. 
Young. This company was similarly uniformed as the Fusileers, 
excepting a hat with a visor in front and a brass shield above it near 
the top. A small twisted cord hung alongside of the hat, which 
was further adorned with a black cockade and feather. The Trojan 
Greens also appear to have been a favorite company. They were 
dressed in green coats, faced with black velvet, as were also the col- 
lar and cuffs. Their hats were similar to those of the Fusileers. 
They were provided with rifles, powder horn, a bullet pouch, and 
instead of a bayonet, had tomahawks hanging to their belts. Be- 
sides marching to the music of a kettle-drum and fife, this company 
was the first Trojan organization that added a bass drum to their 
martial music. The Lieutenants were always called Leftenants. 
The officers were Thomas Davis, Captain ; William S. Parker, Lieu- 
tenant, and Stephen Warren, Ensign. The Trojan Greens were or- 
ganized in the autumn of 1806. In November of the year 1807, the 
company was presented with a rich and elegant stand of colors, the 
])resentation being made by Colonel Derick Lane, in the presence 
of Brigadier General Moffit, Colonel Yates, and other military offi- 
cers. A favorite cou])let heard at that time was : 
•' A white cockade and a peacock's feather, 
The Trojan Greens will die together." 

An English traveller, John Lambert, who was journeying from 
Montreal, at the close of this year, writes of Troy as follows ; " We 
reached Lansingburgh about four o'clock in the morning, but it was 
so dark that I could only discern that it consisted of one long street 
of large brick houses, many of them apparently handsome buildings. 
Troy is situated but a few miles from Lansingburgh, and we arrived 
there about five o'clock. We put up at a large inn. Troy is a well 
built town, consisting chiefly of one street of handsome red brick 
houses, upwards of a mile and a half in length. There are two or 
three short streets which branch off from the main one; but it is in 



86 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

the latter that all the principal stores, warehouses and shops are sit- 
uated. It also contains several excellent inns and taverns. The 
houses are all new, and lofty, and built with much taste and sim- 
plicity, though convenience and accommodation seem to have 
guided the architect more than ornament. The deep red brick, 
well pointed, gives the buildings an air of neatness and cleanliness 
seldom met with in old towns. The trade which Troy has opened 
with the new settlements to the northward, through the States of 
New York and Vermont, as far as Canada, is very extensive, and in 
another twenty years it promises to rival the old established city of 
Albany. Its prosperity is indeed already looked upon with an eye 
of jealousy by the people of the latter place. While we were at 
breakfast, newspapers came in from New York, containing accounts 
of the English expedition to Copenhagen, and the refusal of the 
British government to agree to the proposals of Mr. Pinckney to 
negotiate a treaty upon the same terms as had been before so haugh- 
tily rejected and sent back by Mr Jefferson. We were much inter- 
ested with the news, and the Americans appeared apprehensive that 
a war would take place between the two countries Several stran- 
gers came into the room and began to make some observations on 
the news, but none of our party made them any reply. I soon per- 
ceived that the people were divided into two parties, the Federalists 
and the Democrats, and that both were equally violent in their pol- 
itical altercations. The Federalists are as partial to the English as 
the Democrats are to the French, and the people of those nations 
who reside in the States enlist themselves under the banners of these 
two parties. After breakfast we crossed the Hudson in a ferryboat, 
and got out of the stage which was going to Albany. It is in the form 
of a large coach, with open sides and front, and has a flat roof, sup- 
ported by eight pillars. The panels do not come up higher than 
the hip, and in wet or cold weather leathern curtains are let down 
on each side ; the buttons and straps are however frequently broken 
off, so that the wind and rain often find a ready admittance. It is 
always drawn by four horses." 

A branch of the great political organization, and the oldest in the 
State of New York, the Tammany Society or Columbian Order, was 
established in Troy on the fifteenth day of June, 1808. 
The legend connected with the name of the Society is, 
that the title Tammany, or Tammenund, belonged to an Indian 
chief of the Delaware nation. He was the leading sachem of his 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. g? 

tribe, and was a great friend of the white people. His favorite 
motto was : " Unite in peace for happiness, and in war for defense." 
The Order was instituted on the 12th day of May, 1789, and is de- 
scribed briefly in the following paragraph from the New York Daily 
Gazette of May 12, 1790 : 

" The Society of St. Tammany, being a national society, consists 
of born Americans, who fill all offices, and adopted Americans, who 
are eligible to the honorary posts of warrior and hunter. It is 
founded on the true principles of patriotism, and has for its motives 
charity and brotherly love. Its officers consist of one Grand Sa- 
chem, twelve Sachems, one Treasurer, one Secretary, one Doorkeep- 
er ; it is divided into thirteen tril^es, which severally represent a 
State ; each tribe is governed by a sachem, the honorary posts in 
which are one warrior and one hunter." 

The Troy branch, in November, 1S09, had initiated two hundred 
and sixteen members. The initiation fee was three dollars. The 
names of its principal members were : Jacob E. Adams, Francis 
Adancourt, C. Adriance, Jud. Abbott, Aaron Allis, Elisha Baker, 
Gad. B. Bennett, Timothy Benedick, Adonijah Barnard, Samuel 
Garfield, F. C. Clark, R. Christie, Jesse Crofet, John Caner, Adin 
T. Carry, Caleb Carr, Andrew Cunningham, Galen Dowd, Abram 
Drake, John N. Egleston, William Earl, Peter Frear, Cornelius 
Goodspeed, Josiah Greenman, Joseph Hues, John Hodgkin, Benja- 
min Higbie, Nathaniel Higbie, Peter Hoff, Ruggles Hubbard, Thos. 
Johnson, Roger King, Henry Koon, Oliver Lyon, E. Lynds, William 
L. Marcy, Samuel Martin, George Mann, Abraham Miller, J. W. 
Moulton, Albert Pawling, John Palmer, Jr., Henry Rowe, Dutcher 
Slawson, Joseph D. Selden, George Sampson, Charles Smith, Nathan 
Smith, Joseph Tompkins, John Uran, Simon Van der Cook, D. I. 
Wandell, Caleb Ward, John Willson, Samuel Whalton, John E. 
Wool, Samuel H. Whipple, Guilford D. Young. The place and date 
of the meetings of the Order, are stated in terms like the following: 
"In Tammanial Council, held at their Council Chamber' in the 
Wigwam, in the Season of Flowers, month of Blossoms the 19th, 
and the year of Discovery the 318th." When the members moved 
in procession, as they did on several occasions, they all wore buck- 
tails attached to the sides of their hats, and were preceded by the 
Grand Sachem, dressed in Indian costume, bearing an ornamented 

I In William Pierces T.-ivern on the east side of River street midway between Ferry and 
Congress streets. 



88 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

mahogany bow and a feathered arrow in his hands. A number of 
members carried Indian tomahawks in their hands. Banners with 
standards grotesquely adorned with figures of wild animals, and 
other Indian devices, were borne by the members when marching. 

Another Society similar in character, but differing in politics, 
called the Washington Benevolent Society, was instituted in Troy 
on the ninth day of June, 1810. The first officers were ; Derick 
Lane, President, and Thomas Davis, Secretary. Each member ad- 
mitted into this Order had his name attached to a printed certifi- 
cate bound with Washington's Farewell Address, in a i2mo. vol- 
ume. The Society, on the twenty-second of February, 181 3, cel- 
ebrated the anniversary of the birth of Washington with more than 
usual spirit. "At 12 o'clock a procession was formed under the 
direction of Major Knickerbacker, assisted by Captain Van Alen, 
which moved from Washington HalP through several streets of the 
village, escorted by the Greenbush Rifle Company, commanded by 
Captain Deforest, and the Trojan Greens, commanded by Lieut. 
Dole, in the following order • Marshal of the day, military escort, mil- 
itary officers in uniform, youths bearing Washington's farewell ad- 
dress committee of arrangements, Washington standard, borne by 
Col. Derick Lane, supported by Capt. S. Warren and Col. T. Davis , 
committees and officers ; members, two abreast, under the direction 
of the Marshal, in thirteen divisions, with banners, in the following 
order : Warren, Montgomery, Schuyler, Putnam, Wooster, Gates, 
Greene, Lincoln, McDougal, Mercer, Knox, Wayne, Hamilton ; 
gentlemen not members. 

"When arrived opposite the Presbyterian meeting house, the escort 
saluted by presenting arms, and the procession passed into the 
church in reversed order, while the Washington Band continued 
playing. The church, although large, was soon filled to overflowing, 
the wall pews having been nearly filled with ladies before the arrival 
of the procession. A very appropriate and suitable prayer was 
made by the Rev. Mr. Coe, and an excellent oration was delivered 
by Levi Rumsey, Esq. Our limits will not permit us to give even 
an outline of Mr. Rumsey 's oration ; the plaudits, however, with 
which it was received, and the uniform testimony of those gentle- 
men who heard it, speak its encomium. Much praise is due to Mr. 
Morgan who conducted the music with taste and judgment, and we 
are happy to observe that the immortal works of Handel and Hadyn 

I North-east corner of Congress and River streets. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 89 

were not rejected on this occasion, to make room for the trifling and 
ridiculous see-saw of some of the music quacks of our own coun- 
try. After the conclusion of the exercises in church, the procession 
again formed and proceeded to Washington Hall, where about three 
hundred gentlemen, principally members of the Society, sat down 
to a very excellent dinner prepared by Mr. Seymour." 

Jacob D. Van der Heyden, whose memory and merit entitle him 
to a place among the prominent and representative men of Troy, 
died on the fourth day of September, in the year 1809. 
Descending from a Dutch ancestry of grave, virtuous and 
industrious people, he was one of Troy's most estimable citizens. 
He was always allied with the leading men of the village in the 
management of its secular affairs ; and in every religious work and 
charitable undertaking, he was a zealous participant and a generous 
giver of his time and money. On a memorial tablet in the First 
Presbyterian Church, on the east wall, is the following inscription : 
" Inscribed to the memory of Jacob D. A'anderheyden, Esq., the 
founder and father of this congregation, and the first Ruling Elder 
in this Church. Born in Albany, Oct. 28, 1758. Died in Troy, 
Sept. 4, 1809." 

A favorite method of raising money at this early day was by lot- 
tery. The Legislature was accustomed to grant to Colleges, 
Corporations, and other Societies within the State, the right 
to issue lottery tickets representing a large sum of money. These 
tickets were then sold, and after the amount of the different prizes 
and the expenses had been deducted from the proceeds, the surplus 
was allowed to be appropriated to the uses set forth in the Act of 
the Legislature authorizing the lottery. In 1810 the Legislature 
passed a law creating a lottery for raising thirty thousand dollars for 
the purpose of improving the Hudson river between Troy, Lansing- 
burgh and Waterford. The sellers of these tickets did not as at 
present, lose the respect of the people by engaging in these speculat- 
ing transactions, but were patronized generally by all the citizens, 
who felt interested in the contemplated improvement. In the Union 
College Lottery, number four, Parker & Bliss, booksellers of Troy, 
sold a large number of tickets. They stated in an advertisement in 
1812, that "this lottery will commence drawing in the city of New 
York on the first of December next, and continue drawing at the 
usual rate of 6co tickets per day, until completed. The following 
arc a part of the Capital prizes, viz.: 1 i)ri;'c of $20,000; i prize of 
12 



90 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

$15,000; I prize of $10,000; i prize of $5,000; 2 prizes of $2,000; 
3 prizes of $1,000; 8 prizes of $500; 15 prizes of $200. Less than 
two blanks to a prize." The price of tickets were eight dollars; and 
they were divided into wholes, halves, quarters and eighths. There 
was a lottery called the State of New York Board of Health Lottery, 
and the Grand National Lottery for the opening of a canal in the 
city of Washington, authorized by the United States and the state of 
Maryland, and another, the Washington Monument Lottery. 

The Bank of Troy was incorporated on the twenty-second day of 
March, 181 1. The whole number of shares was not to ex- 
ceed two thousand, at twenty-five dollars each. The bank 
was to be managed and conducted by seventeen directors, seven of 
whom were to be residents of Troy, five of Lansingburgh and five 
of Waterford. Esaias Warren was elected its first President, and 
Alanson Douglas, Cashier. The Directors were Albert Pawling, 
Benjamin Smith, Joseph D. Selden, Ebenezer Jones, Esaias Warren, 
Richard P. Hart, Jacob Merritt, Thomas Trenor, Alanson Douglas, 
Jonathan Burr, John Stewart, Roger Skinner, John Cramer, John T. 
Close, Moses Scott, Richard Davis, Jr., and John House. 

The third fire company of Troy, was organized in 181 2. By a 
petition of Leonard Reed, Jeremiah Dauchy, George Vail, 
Hanford N. Lockwood, and others, being twenty-five in 
number, the Legislature on the twenty-sixth of May, passed an 
act incorporating the Washington Volunteer Fire Company of Troy. 
By the charter, the company was permitted to hold property not ex- 
ceeding fifteen hundred dollars in value ; the stock was divided into 
twenty-five shares of sixty-two dollars and fifty cents each. Twenty- 
five members were allowed by the charter. An engine costing five 
hundred and fifty dollars was procured from Abel Hardenbrook, of 
New York City. It was made after the pattern of all the goose neck 
engines of the period, having a suction, and also a hose reel on the 
platform. An engine house was built on a lot granted the company 
by Derick Van der Heyden, situated on the west side of Fourth 
street, about seventy-five feet north of Fulton street. The first 
officers were Hezekiah Williams, Captain ; Russell W. Lewis, Treas- 
urer, and Henry Nazro, Secretary. 

By an act of the Legislature passed June 8th, 1812, the Supervis- 
ors of Rensselaer County were authorized to raise fifteen hundred 
dollars by tax for the purpose of erecting and completing a fire 
proof oflice for the use of the County Clerk, on the south east cor- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



91 



ner of Congress and Second streets. Aaron Lane, William Bradley, 
and Ruggles Hubbard, were appointed commissioners to superin- 
tend the building of the office. 

Among the well known citizens of Troy in the year 18 12, was 
Samuel Wilson. Being one of the first settlers, and besides having 
a kind and benevolent disposition, he won the esteem and affection 
of everybody in the village, and was more generally designated as 
Uncle Sam than by his proper name. It is related that on one oc- 
casion his youngest son wandered away from home and was lost. A 
gentleman found him crying in a strange place, and asked him 
whose boy he was, and received for an answer, that he was Uncle 
Sam's boy. By this appellation the father was readily recognized 
and he was returned to his parents. During the military operations 
along the northern border in the war of 1812, Samuel and Ebenezer 
Wilson were engaged in an extensive slaughtering business, employ- 
ing about one hundred men, and were slaughtering weekly more 
than one thousand head of cattle. During this year, he and his 
brother received a contract from Elbert Anderson, Jr., an army con- 
tractor, to supply the troops stationed at Greenbush with beef, "pack- 
ed in full bound barrels of white oak." Samuel Wilson was also 
appointed at this time an Inspector of beef for the army, and was 
accustomed in this line of duty to mark all the barrels of meat pass- 
ing his inspection with the abbreviated title U. S. of the United 
States. In the army at the cantonment at Greenbush, there were a 
number of soldiers who had enlisted in Troy, and to whom " Uncle 
Sam " and his business were well known. The beef received from 
Troy, they always alluded to as Uncle Sam's beef, and the other 
soldiers without any inquiry began to recognize the letters U. S. as 
the initial designation of Uncle Sam. A contractor from the north- 
ern lines strengthened this impression thereafter, when, purchas- 
ing a large quantity of beef in Troy, he advertised that he had 
received a supply of Uncle Sam's beef of a superior quality. The 
name "Uncle Sam," a few only knowing its derivation, became in a 
little while the recognized familiar designation of the United States, 
and is now as well known to the world as is the appellation John 
Bull. 

Commercially Troy was greatly benefited by the war of 1812. A 
single mercantile house paid thirty thousand dollars during the 
month of September, for the transportation of provisions, flour, 
whiskey, &c., from Troy to Plattsburgh, for the use of the Army of 



92 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

the North. C. Selden & Brothers advertised for three hundred teams 
" to take loading from Albany to Whitehall." Infantry, artillery and 
wagon trains were daily passing through the streets and crossing the 
ferry. Batteaux upon the river filled with sailors and munitions of 
war were constantly passing northward. " On Saturday, September 
19th, 1812, the two Light Infantry companies of the village, the 
Fusileers and Invincibles, commanded by Captains Oliver Lyon and 
Benjamin Higbie, marched for Plattsburgh, in obedience to orders 
received from his Excellency Governor Tompkins. They were 
joined in the village by a company of Riflemen from Watervliet, who 
had voluntered their services to the President of the United States, 
and a company of Cavalry from Saratoga county, and at Lansing- 
burgh by Captain King's company of Artillery. His Excellency the 
Governor, (very graciously,) accompanied them to Waterford. The 
whole were escorted to the latter place by the Rifle company the 
Trojan Greens, under command of Lieutenant Dole." The conduct 
of the Troy troops is honorably mentioned in the following letter to 
Doctor Samuel Gale, Jr, from Oliver Lyon, and which was pub- 
lished in the Troy Post November 3d, 181 2: 

"French Mills, 24th Oct, 1812. 

"Sir: — By permission of Maj. Young, I forward you an extract 
from the official account of the rencontre at St. Regis, on the 22d 
inst. I wish you to have the goodness to hand it for publication 
after perusal. Yours, &c.., 

"Samuel Gale, Esq O. Lyon." 

"Headquarters, Camp, French Mills, 24th Oct., 1812. 

"On the 22d I dispatched several confidential friends to reconnoi- 
tre about the village of St. Regis ; they returned with the informa- 
tion that the enemy had landed in the village, and that we might 
expect a visit from them immediately. Their number Avas stated by 
no one at less than no, and from that to 300; the most certain in- 
formation fixed on the former number. It was also believed that 
the enemy were determined to make a stand at that place, and would 
speedily increase their number. This determined me to make an 
immediate attempt to take out those already landed, before any re- 
inforcements could arrive. I ordered the men to be furnished with 
two days' rations of provisions, with double rations of whiskey ; and 
at eleven at night we marched out with the utmost silence, that we 
might give as little alarm as possible. We took a circuitous route 
through the woods, and arrived at Gray's Mills at half-past three, A. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 93 

M. We found here a boat, a small canoe, and two cribs of boards. 
Captain Lyon's company crossed in the boat, Captain McNiel's in 
the canoe, and the remainder, with our horses, crossed on the cribs. 
We arrived within a half a mile of the village at 5 o'clock, where 
being concealed from the enemy by a little rise of ground, we halted 
to reconnoiter, refresh the men, and make our disposition for the 
attack, which was arranged in the following order: 

"Captain Lyon was detached from the right, with orders to take 
the road running along the bank of the St. Regis river, with direc- 
tions to gain the rear of Captain Mountaigny's house, in which, and 
Donnally's, the enemy were said to be quartered. Captatn Tilden 
was detached to the St. Lawrence, with a view of gaining the rear 
of Donnally's house, and also securing the enemy's boats, (expected 
to have been stationed there,) to prevent their retreat. With the 
remainder of the force I moved in front and arrived within 150 
yards of Mountaigny's house, when I found by the firing that Cap- 
tain Lyon was engaged ; at the same instant I discovered a person 
passing in front, and ordered him to stand, but not being obeyed, 
ordered Captain Higbie's first platoon to fire, and the poor fellow 
soon fell. He proved to be the ensign named in the list of killed. 
The firing was at an end in an instant, and we soon found in our 
possession forty prisoners, with their arms and equipments." (Here 
follows a list of killed, four in number, and one wounded mortally. 
Equipments, one stand of colors, two batteaux, and thirty-eight guns.) 
" After searching in vain for further military stores, we recrossed the 
river at the village and returned to camp by the nearest route, where 
we arrived at 1 1 a. m. The batteaux, with baggage, &c., arrived a 
few minutes before us. We had not a man hurt. I cannot close 
this letter without stating to your Excellency that the officers and 
soldiers for their conduct on this occasion deserve the highest en- 
comiums, for so strict was their attention to duty and orders, that we 
entered the place without being heard by the Indians' dogs. The 
prisoners I have just sent off to Plattsburgh, to await the disposition 
of your Excellency. 

I am very respectfully, your Excellency's 
Most obt. humb. servant, 

Guilford D. Young, Major, 
Commanding the troops stationed at F. Mills." 

"Brig.-Gen. Bloomfield, 

Commanding advanced N. army." 



94 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



On Sunday, December 6th, the two companies, the Fusileers and 
Invincibles, after two and a half months' service, returned home and 
were escorted into the village with great enthusiasm by the inhabi- 
tants. An Albany paper thus refers to the disposition of the cap- 
tured colors: "On January 5th, (1813,) a detachment of the 
volunteer militia of Troy came into the city with the British colors 
they had taken at St. Regis. They bore two superb eagles in the 
center, and the captured colors in the rear, passing through Market 
and State streets to the Capitol. The Governor being unable to 
attend. Colonels Lamb and Lush, his aids, advanced to receive the 
trophies, which were presented in military style to the people of the 
State of New York, by Major Young, and the reply was made by 
Colonel Lush. The standard was deposited in the council room, 
amid the loud huzzas of the people, and the firing of military salutes." 

During the war Troy was a recruiting station. Congress having 
authorized the army to be increased by an additional force of 25,000 
men. Upon the recommendation of Governor Clinton and others, 
John E. Wool, a young and an enterprising merchant of Troy, was 
appointed a Captain in the Thirteenth Regiment of Infantry. He 
opened a recruiting office in Troy, and offered the following induce- 
ments to secure enlistments : " To the patriotic young men of the 
counties of Rensselaer and Washington. A recruiting rendezvous 
is now opened by the subscriber, in the village of Troy, and in the 
town of Kingsbury, for the purpose of procuring soldiers for the 
army of the United States. Forty dollars bounty and pay, will be 
given in advance to every able bodied man, between fourteen and 
forty-five years of age, who shall enlist in the service of the United 
States for the term of five years, or during the war with Great Britain, 
Also will be given a bounty of one hundred and sixty acres of land 
and three months pay, in addition to eight dollars to privates, nine 
dollars to musicians, ten dollars to corporals and eleven dollars to 
sergeants, with rations and clothing. 

" Such are the pecuniary inducements held out by the government 
of the United States to the soldier. Independent, however, of that 
circumstance, a more powerful consideration urges the patriotic 
youth of our country to take up arms. It is not only the rights and 
honor of the nation which you are called on to defend, but the cries 
of the widow and the orphan demand that you shall avenge the 
blood of the husband and the father, which has been shed on our 
frontiers by the ruthless savages and their more barbarous ally. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 05 

" Under such circumstances, I trust the young men of the coun- 
ties of Rensselaer and Washington will not hesitate to rally round 
the standard and swear on the Altar of Freedom to avenge the 
wrongs committed on our sacred country, or die in the attempt. 

John E. Wool, 

"Troy, Feb 6th, 1813. Captain 13th Regt. U. S. Infantry." 

"In addition to the terms above offered, a law has been passed by 
Congress exempting all soldiers who may enlist, from arrest for any 
debt or sum whatever." ^ 

Having enlisted a sufficient number of soldiers in Troy, Captain 
Wool joined his regiment at Greenbush, and in the autumn marched 
to the Niagara frontier, where soon after his arrival he distinguished 
himself for bravery in the line of duty. At the storming of Queens- 
town on October 13th, 181 2, undertaken with a handful of men, he, 
in this his first engagement, was shot through both thighs. His 
heroism on this occasion was at once recognized by his country, and 
he received promotion to a Major's position in the army. 

Among the honored and respected men which Troy has had, to 
give it prominence in history, was Isaac McConihe, who was born 
at Merrimac in the State of New Hampshire, on the 22d day of 
August, 1787. Graduating at Dartmouth College in his native State 
at the age of twenty-two years, he immediately thereafter began the 
study of the law, of which his excellent knowledge, in after years, 
obtained for him an appointment as Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas in the County of Rensselaer. In the year 181 2 he removed 
to Troy, at which time he entered the office of Stephen Ross. 
Being admitted a partner, the firm was known as Ross & Mc- 
Conihe. 

As has been previously mentioned, the Hudson river abounded 
in fish of excellent quality and of large size. It is recorded that on 
Monday afternoon, July 27, 1812, two hundred and twenty-five bass 
were caught at a single draught in the upper part of the river, near 
the village of Lansingburgh. They weighed from five to thirty 
pounds each, and the entire weight was about three thousand 
pounds. 

The Legislature, on the i6th day of June, 181 2, passed an Act 
incorporating " The Trustees of the Earthen Conduit Company of 
Troy." As officers of the company, the following persons are men- 
Uoned in the Act of incorporation : Abraham Ten Eyck, President ; 

I Troy Post, March 2, :8i3. 



gS HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Abraham Ten Eyck, Derick Lane, Piatt Titus, Nathan Warren, 
and Daniel Merritt, Trustees. The stock was divided into one hun- 
dred shares of one hundred dollars each. Previously, the village 
had been supplied with water by a company known as the Acque- 
duct Water Works. The works of this company were advertised 
for sale, in December, 1812, by Benjamin Smith. The old wooden 
pipes of the latter company are frequently found embedded below 
the streets'of the city at the present time. 

The Troy Iron and Nail Factory, which had been established in 
1811, was in 1812 manufacturing an excellent quality of cut nails, 
which were offered for sale by the keg or ton. In Febru- 
^ ^'^' ary, 18 13, iron shovels and spades were also made in large 
quantities, and were equal to any imported ones in quality and 
price. John Converse, the agent at this time of the Iron and Nail 
Factory, advertised at the beginning of the year for ten thousand 
shovel and spade handles, for which on delivery he promised to pay 
the same prices given in Boston. 

Church Trustees were particularly in power at this time, for they 
seem not only to have managed the secular interests of the church 
of which they were members, but were also made judges of the 
forms of worship which the congregation were required to follow. 
At a meeting of the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, Novem- 
ber 8th, 1813, the following list of tunes were selected by them to 
be sung by the choristers : Long Meter — Old Hundred, China, 
Greenwich, Windham, Bridgewater, Ware, Florida. Common Me- 
ter — Mear, Harmony, New Mark, Coronation, Sherburne, Plymoutli, 
St. Martins, Brady, Virginia, New Durham. Short Meter — Stafford, 
Lisbon. Particular Meter — Lennox, Greenfield. 

The appearance in the year 1813 of the triangular piece of ground 
known as Washington Square, was very different from that which 
it now presents. This space between River, Second streets and 
Broadway, was then occupied with buildings. On the north-west 
corner of Albany (Broadway) and Second streets, was the two-story 
brick dwelling of Judge James Spencer. Next and west of it was 
a building occupied by John Lantrow as a bakery, adjoining it and 
on the corner of Albany and River streets was a low flat roofed, two- 
story structure occupied by a Madam Kelly as a millinery shop. 
This was the place where all the fashionable and aristocratic matrons 
and maids of Troy obtained the latest Parisian styles of bonnets, rib- 
bons and laces. Around the corner on River street was another 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 97 

similar building which had been erected and was then occupied by 
Jacob and Philip Dater as a saloon. Beyond this and on the corner 
of River and Second streets, was a smajl wooden structure in which 
there was a shoe store. Between it and along the west side 
of Second street, a high board fence protected the yard of Judge 
Spencer. Not many years afterward all of this property was pur- 
chased by those having property in the vicinity and given to the city 
for a public square. The Cannon Place site, on the east corner of 
the alley, was occupied by a two and a half story wooden building 
known as Bull's Head Tavern. This designation it received from a 
sign of a huge bull's head which was suspended in front of the Tav- 
ern. It was rented to Elias Lasell at a yearly rent of two hundred 
dollars. The tavern-yard, barn and stables were in the rear of the 
building. East of it was the barber shop of James A. Zander. It 
was considered at that time the aristocratic barber shop of Troy; its 
frequenters were such men as William L. Marcy, John E. Wool, 
Jonas C. Heartt, Jacob L. Lane, Daniel Hall and others, who moved 
in the circles of Troy's best society. Adjoining and east of it, was 
the law office of Daniel Hall. On the south-west corner of Broad- 
way and Second street, where Nims & Company now have their 
book and stationery store, was an old wooden building used by 
David Sherman as a cooper shop and dwelling. On this corner 
shortly afterwards, the large and extensive coach factory of Charles 
Veazie was erected. In 1S16 the Bull's Head Tavern was removed 
to the corner of River and Second streets, north of the present 
Mansion House. This property was then purchased by Elias Lasell 
from its owner Nathan Belts for the sum of four thousand eight hun- 
dred dollars. The same building is still standing, although at differ- 
ent times it has had its interior refitted. The Mansion House was 
not yet built. The present site of it was then covered by the resi- 
dence and law office of Lewis T. Tillman. When he removed, the 
building became the coach factory of James O. Ladue. 

The opening of the year 1814 inaugurated the memorable, long 
and persistent opposition which Troy, Lansingburgh and 
Waterford waged against the building of a bridge across the 
Hudson river at Albany. The citizens of these villages were made 
aware of this project of the people of Albany by a "notification 
published in the Albany Gazette, of an intended application to the 
Legislature for leave to bring in a bill for the erection of a Toll 
Bridge across the Hudson river at the most eligible spot between 
13 



98 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Columbia street and the street north of the Arsenal at Albany." To 
consider the matters set forth in this notification, a notice was pub- 
lished and a Town meeting held in Troy at the Court House, on the 
evening of January nth, 18 14. The following preamble and reso- 
lutions were read and adopted by the assembled citizens : 

" The people of this Town for a long time struggled against in- 
conveniences arising from natural obstructions in the bed of the 
river between this place and Albany, but now look with the most 
lively satisfaction at the result of their long and arduous exertions, 
which, aided by the bounty of the State, have effected an easy and 
convenient passage for their vessels in those waters. No trifling 
considerations could induce the people of this town to oppose any 
plan calculated to benefit a neighboring city ; but the delays, losses, 
and frequent damages occasioned to vessels by draw-bridges are well 
known to be ruinously great; they present obstacles which the Leg- 
islature have heretofore deemed inadmissible, and from which the 
present applicants exempt the vessels of Albany, even at the expense 
of a convenient position for their bridge, a position being selected 
far from off the high road, above all their wharves, and of all others 
near Albany, the worst for vessels passing above it. 

" It is not doubted but that a bridge if built across the river at this 
town would afford equal if not greater public accommodation than 
the one proposed to be built at Albany, and occasion much less in- 
convenience to vessels; yet some few years past commissioners ap- 
pointed by the Legislature on the petition of a part of the people 
of this town for a bridge at this place, reported to that honorable 
body in substance, that a bridge to cross the river at this place ought 
to be built so high as to admit the passage of vessels under it, or at 
the height of ninety feet above the ordinary level of the river ; a 
project so visionary was justly considered as reporting indirectly 
against the building of any bridge whatever; which report from a 
consideration of the deep interest all classes of citizens had in the 
free navigation of the river, was approved by the Legislature, and 
readily and unanimously acquiesced in by the people of this town. 
This solemn decision of the Legislature, it was believed, had put to 
silence for ever all applications for bridges across the navigable 
waters of the Hudson, but a notice in the Albany Gazette of an in- 
tended application for a bridge at that place, shows that in that ex- 
pectation we were mistaken. It is therefore 

'''' Resolved, That as this town in common with the trading towns. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



99 



and all the country lying north of us, have an important interest in 
the free navigation of the river; that as it is evidently unjust to 
sacrifice any one portion of the community for the benefit of another ; 
that as silence in us on this occasion may be construed into an aban- 
donment of those interests, and a dereliction from public duty — we 
take this early opportunity of declaring as we now do, our most de- 
cided disai)probation of the proposed measure, and against any 
project calculated to obstruct the free navigation of the river, in any 
manner whatever. 

''''Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to confer with the gen- 
tlemen whose names appear in the notice for a bridge, and that they 
report the result of such conference to a future meeting, and that 
Townsend McCoun, Charles Selden, Albert Pawling, George Tibbits, 
Hugh Peebles, Joseph Russell, Ebenezer Wilson and Gurdon Corn- 
ing, be of that Committee. 

''''Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare a remon- 
strance to the Legislature, respectfully stating our objections to the 
erection of said bridge, and that Derick Lane, John Russell, George 
Tibbits, Townsend McCoun, Joseph D. Selden and David Buel, Jr , 
be of that Committee. 

'''Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the 
Chairman and Secretary, and published in all the papers printed in 
this place, Lansingburgh, Waterford and Albany." 

" Townsend McCoun, Chairman. 

" Joseph D. Selden, Sccrcta>-y " ' 

This protest together with an adverse report of a committee from 
the Common Council of Albany, created a strong opposition to the 
contemplated building of the bridge, which its projectors were suffi- 
ciently wise to understand, and for a time, the idea was abandoned. 
Nevertheless, for almost half a century, the building of this bridge 
was discussed and opposed in the newspapers, at town meetings, 
and in the State Legislature, before the bridge was permitted to be 
built. When at length it was erected, it did not seriously affect either 
the northern navigation of the river, or subject travelers by land to 
any inconveniences, for Troy in the meantime having secured rail- 
roads on the eastern and western sides of the river which had their 
termini in the city, and spanned the river in front of it with a rail- 
road bridge, was thus ably prepared to compete with Albany for 

1 Troy Post, January i8, 1814. 



TOO HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

the trade of the surrounding country, a large part of which it was 
then receiving through these various tributary lines. 

The value of property in Troy and the increasing number of fires 
in the growing village, suggested to its leading merchants and wealth- 
ier people, the organization of an insurance company. A bill was 
drawn and an act was passed by the Legislature in April, 1814, in- 
corporating the Rensselaer and Saratoga Insurance Company, with 
a capital of half a million of dollars Classes of hazards were 
-adopted and rates of annual premiums were designated at from 
twenty-two to one hundred cents on each one hundred dollars val- 
uation of property. The company also made good all losses on pro- 
perty burnt by lightning. Daniel Merritt was elected President, 
and Alanson Douglas, Secretary of the company. The Board of 
Directors embraced Daniel Merritt, Joseph Russell, Nathan War- 
ren, Hugh Peebles, Charles Selden, John D Dickinson, Townsend 
McCoun, Philip Heartt, Derick Lane, Benjamin Smith, Richard P. 
Hart, Samuel Gale, Lewis Richards, George Tibbits, Nathan Dau- 
chy, of Troy ; James Hickok, Shubael Gorham, Elias Parmelee, 
Jonathan Burr, Ebenezer W. Walbridge, Gardnier Tracy, of Lan- 
singburgh; Samuel Stewart, Ira Scott, John House, John Cramer, 
John T. Close and James Van Schoonhoven, of Waterford. 

The menancing attitude of the enemy toward the city of New 
York, in the summer of 18 14, called into service various military or- 
ganizations in the State, and those belonging to Troy, as in 1812, stood 
in readiness to meet the imperative duties of the occasion. The 
Trojan Greens were the first to take the field at this time. "Yester- 
day (August 22d, says a contemporary account,) at twelve o'clock. 
Captain Sidney Dole's Company of Riflemen, styled the Trojan 
Greens, left this village on their way to the city of New York, hav- 
ing tendered their services to the Commander in Chief for the de- 
fense of that city, and being ordered by Lieutenant Colonel 
Lockwood to rendezvous at Albany the 22d inst. They were escort- 
ed through some of the principal streets of the village as far as Pye's 
Tavern (half-way house) by a detachment from the two light infantry 
companies of Captains Lyon and Higbie, under the command of the 
latter, who with those under his command, politely volunteered for 
the purpose; the escort was likewise joined by a respectable number 
of gentlemen of both parties, who appeared anxious to testify in 
this public manner, their respect for this patriotic band of Federal 
young men, who, we are highly gratified to say, although they may 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. loi 

be the last to invade a foreign inoffending territory, will ever we trust 
be ready at the call of their country to defend their native land 
against the invasion of any and every foreign ememy."> 

" On Friday, the ninth day of September, the two Light Infantry 
Companies under command of Captain Higbie, embarked for New 
York, being ordered there by the Commander in Chief. There are 
now employed in the public service from this village, one company 
of Riflemen, two of Light Infantry, and one of Infantry. "2 

The exigencies of the time caused the directors of the various 
banking institutions throughout the northern states temporarily to 
suspend the payment of specie. In consequence of these actions, 
the banks of Troy and in the vicinity also suspended specie pay- 
ment, and inserted in the papers the following explanatory card : 

"The Directors of the Banking Institutions of the villages of Troy 
and Lansingburgh having taken into consideration the Resolution of 
their Fellow Citizens of the village of Troy of the 3d September 
■instant, the publication of the Banking Institutions of the City of 
Philadelphia, stating the causes of their suspending their payments 
in specie, together with the resolutions of the Citizens and Banking 
Institutions in the cities of New York and Albany, have with much 
regret, and after mature consideration, come to a resolution to sus- 
pend for the present their payments in specie ; they confidently hope 
and expect that the necessity for this measure will soon be removed, 
and pledge themselves to the public that measures shall be taken to 
restrain their loans within safe limits. September 5th, 1814. 

John D. Dickinson, 

President of the Farmers' Bank. 

EsAiAS Warren, 

President of the Bank of Troy. 

Elijah Janes, 

President of the Bank of Lansingburgh."' 
In view of this action by the banks, the Trustees of the village 
resolved to issue notes of small denominational values to meet the 
want of the withheld specie. A card to the public in respect to this 
action of the village authorities appeared in the Troy Post of Sen- 
tember 13, 1814: 

"The Trustees of the village of Troy having requested Parker & 

t Troy Post, August 23d, 1814. 

2 Troy Post, September 13th, 1814. 

3 Troy Post September 6th, 1814. 



I02 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Bliss to issue small printed notes to remedy the inconvenience re- 
sulting from the great scarcity of change, we, the undersigned, do 
agree to receive said amall bills when issued, and to pay current bank 
bills for them, whenever presented at our stores in sums amounting 
to one dollar or more. R. P. Hart & Co., E. Warren & Co., I. M. 
Wells, Hart & Nazro, Russell, Tracy & Co., A. & W. Kellogg, G. 
Corning & Co., T. McCoun & Co., Dauchy & Sm.ith, Isaac Merritt, 
Redfield & Bradley, Ephraim Morgan, Joel Ketchum & Co., Philip 
Heartt, Samuel S. Lockwood, Isaac Brinckerhoff, Mead & Co., Sam- 
uel Gale, Edw. & Jas. Tylee, Asa Gardner & Co., James Proudfit, 
H. & G. Vail, John P. Fellows, Francis Yvonnet, T. Skelding & Co., 
Vail & Co., James Mann & Co., Piatt Titus, Jno. D. Dickinson, L. 
T. Tillman, Amasa Paine." 

In the latter part of November, the three infantry companies of 
the village returned home from the city of New York, their term of 
service having expired. The following is taken from a general 
order dated 

"Head-Quarters 3d Military District, 

New York, Nov. 21, 1814. 

"Captain Dole's Company of Riflemen, attached to General Boyd's 
Brigade, will be immediately mustered and paid, so that they may be 
discharged by Gen. Boyd on the 22d inst. The General is directed 
to present to the corps suitable acknowledgments for their patriotic 
and faithful service. Captain Dole will cause all articles of public 
property, to be returned to the Commissary of the State of New 
York, at the Arsenal in this city. 

(Signed,) J. R. Fenwick, Adj't General." 

" Brigade Head-Quarters, 

Camp, New-Utrecht, Nov. 21, 1814. 
" Brigade Order : 

" Agreeable to the General Order of this date, Captain Dole's 
Company of Riflemen, having been mustered for the purpose of be- 
ing paid, is honorably discharged from the service of the United 
States. It is with pleasure the General conforms to that part of the 
order which directs him to "present suitable acknowledgments" to 
a company, which, while under his command, has invariably con- 
ducted itself with so much good order and discipline. They have 
had no opportunity to evince their valour in the field; but the pat- 
riotic alacrity and willingness with which they obeyed the call of 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



103 



their country, is the best security of their ability and inclination to 
discharge the highest and most perilous duties of the soldier. They 
return to their homes with the warmest wishes for their welfare. 

"By order of Brig. Gen. Boyd. 

"Henry Whiting, Aid-de-Camp." 

Commodore Thomas Macdonough, the brave Commander of the 
United States Squadron on Lake Champlain, was enthusiastically 
received and hospitably entertained by the citizens of Troy, on 
Saturday, December 3d, 1814, The reception is thus described in 
the Troy Post of December 6th : " Agreeably to previous arrange- 
ment, on Saturday last the President and Trustees of this village, in 
carriages, accompanied by a respectable number of the citizens on 
horseback, proceeded to the half-way house between here and Lan- 
singburgh, and escorted Com. Macdonough to Titus* tavern, and at 
two o'clock a very numerous procession was formed by the inhabi- 
tants, without distinction of party, which moved in the following 
order from Titus' Tavern, viz : i. Martial music ; 2. Military Escort, 
under Captain Dole; 3. Band of Music; 4. Citizens; 5. Clergy ; 6. 
Trustees of the Village; 7. The President and Com. Macdonough; 
which after passing through several of the principal streets, halted 
at Seymour's tavern, which the whole procession entered in reversed 
order, and were shortly after seated at a very elegant and plentiful 
table, prepared by Mr. Seymour for the occasion. 

" The Commodore passed Sunday here, and in such a manner as 
comported with the character already laid before the public, and 
which we believe will one day adorn the Nelson of this country. 
On Monday he was accompanied by the officers of the village and 
other citizens as far as Pye's tavern, where he was received by a 
numerous escort, composed of citizens and others from the city of 
Albany 

" On his way from Whitehall, Com. Macdonough was compliment- 
ed with an entertainment at Cambridge and at Waterford. 

" The inhabitants of Lansingburgh, we understand, intend to pre- 
sent the Commodore with an elegant piece of plate. 

" Com Macdonough will leave Albany this day in the stage, on 
his way to his family residence in Middletown, Conn., and is ordered, 
we understand, to report himself at Washington in January next." 

The war was ended A treaty of peace and amity between the 
United States of America and his Britannic Majesty was signed on 
the 24th of December, 1814, and was duly ratified and confirm- 



I04 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

ed on the 17th of February, 1815. On the twenty-first 
of the month the news of the ratification reached Troy, 
and it was thus celebrated as described by the Troy Post of Feb. 
28th, 1815. 

" On Tuesday last (21st), about 3 o'clock, p. m., a copy of the 
Ratified Treaty of Peace was received at this office, and immediate- 
ly printed in a handbill form , for the accommodation of our coun- 
try readers, we have inserted it in this day's paper. In compliance 
with a recommendation of the Corporation of this Village, pub- 
lished at a late hour on the same evening, (the joyful news was re- 
ceived at six o'clock on Wednesday morning,) the bells were rung, 
and at eleven o'clock a numerous procession was formed, which, 
escorted by a detachment from Captain Dole's Rifle company, and 
some other troops hastily assembled for the purpose, proceeded to 
the Presbyterian church, where the ' voice of thanksgiving and 
praise ' to Almighty God for the inestimable blessing of Peace, was 
raised by the Rev. Messrs. Coe, Wayland and Clark. In the eve- 
ning most of the houses and stores, and many of the public build- 
ings, were illuminated, some of them with much taste. From sun- 
rise until nine at evening, the roar of cannon was almost inces- 
sant, and at intervals in the evening the beauty of the whole 
scene was much heightened by the appearance of rockets let off 
from the United States Arsenal situate about a mile from the vil- 
lage." 

The Bible Society of the County of Rensselaer was organized at 
a meeting of a number of citizens from different towns in the coun- 
ty, held in the Court House on the eleventh day of July, 1815. 
The following officers were elected: Rev. Jonas Coe, President; 
Rev. Ralph Westervelt, First Vice President ; Rev. Samuel Blatch- 
ford. Second Vice President; David Buel, Jr., Corresponding Sec- 
retary ; Rev. Francis Wayland, Recording Secretary ; Derick Lane, 
Treasurer, The Board of Managers elected were : Rev. Parker 
Adams, Rev. Tobias Spicer, Rev. John Younglove, Jr., Rev. Justus 
Hull, Dr. Ely Burritt, Hon. Josiah Masters, Jacob A. Fort, Hon. 
Hosea Moffitt, James L. Hodgeboom. 

This year Rev. Jonas Coe was honored by Middlebury College 
with the title of Doctor of Divinity. 

On Tuesday evening, January 30th, 1816, the inhabitants of the 
village voted with great unanimity, in public meeting, to raise the 
sum of five thousand dollars by tax for the purpose of establishing 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OP^ TROY. 105 

a school on the Lancasterian pLan, projected by a Quaker named 
Joseph Lancaster. The sum of two thousand dollars was also levied 
for building the school house. This was erected on the ground 
now occupied by the Academy, on the north-west corner of State 
and Seventh streets. On Monday, the i6th of September, the 
school was opened, and about three hundred scholars were 
entered. The highest price of tuition was two dollars per 
quarter, and the lowest, twenty-five cents. Books and other school 
supplies were furnished by the Trustees of the village. 

The citizens of Troy were among the first to give an enthusiastic 
support to the project of connecting the waters of the western lakes 
with the Hudson river, by means of an internal canal, and were 
strong advocates of the feasibility and usefulness of the contemplat- 
ed work. Early in the year 181 6, the following card appeared in 
one of the weekly journals of the village : 

" Canal. — The inhabitants of the village of Troy are requested 
to meet at the Court House, on Saturday evening (Feb. 24th), at 
6 o'clock, to take into consideration the propriety of memorializing 
the Legislature on the subject of the contemplated Western Canal." 

The meeting thus called was attended by many prominent citizens. 
The Hon. George Tibbits was chosen chairman, and Joseph D. Sel- 
den. Secretary, when the following resolutions were read and unani- 
mously adopted. 

" I St. Resolved^ That in the opinion of this meeting, a navigable 
water communication to extend from the Hudson to the Western 
Lakes is an object highly deserving the most deliberate consideration 
of the citizens of this State and the Legislature ; that the advantages 
reasonably expected to be derived from it will far exceed any estima- 
tion which we have seen of its probable expense. 

" 2d. Resolved, That this meeting have seen with great satisfaction 
an increasing disposition throughout the State favorable to this meas- 
ure, which, in the opinion of this meeting is in every point of view 
of the first importance to the wealth of every class of citizens of 
this State, and to the union, prosperity and happiness of the United 
States. 

"3d. Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting the pecuniary 
resources necessary to effect this great national object, are completely 
within the means of the people of this State, or an association of in- 
dividuals. That measures ought to be adopted without delay to 
carry it into effect; and that a petition from the inhabitants of this 
14 



I06 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

town ought to be presented to the Legislature, recommending the 
same to their favorable notice and consideration, 

"4th. Resolved, That the petition of the citizens of New York, in 
the opinion of this meeting, contains an able exposition of the sub- 
ject, and that it be adopted as expressive of the feelings and views 
of the people of this town. And that a committee of four persons 
from each of the four wards be appointed to obtain signatures of the 
inhabitants to the same, and that Albert Pawling, J. Sampson, I. M. 
Wells and Ephraim Morgan, from the First ward; Samuel Gale, J. 
Mallory, John P. Cushman and Hugh Peebles, from the Second ; 
Stephen Warren, Townsend McCoun, Francis Adancourt and Gur- 
don Corning, from the Third ; H. Arnold, J. Hammil, Stephen Ross, 
and L. Reed, from the Fourth, be that committee. 

"5th. Resolved, That George Tibbits, Albert Pawling, Townsend 
McCoun, Amasa Paine and Joseph D. Selden, be a corresponding 
committee on the subject of the foregoing resolutions. 

"6th. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed 
by the Chairman and Secretary, and published. 

"George Tibbits, Chairman. 

"Joseph D. Selden, Secretary." 

Following this action of the people of Troy, the " Great Canal 
Bill " was passed in April by the Legislature, by which Stephen Van 
Rensselaer, De Witt Clinton, Samuel Young, Joseph Ellicott and 
Myron Holley, were designated Commissioners for the purpose of 
having the proposed route surveyed again, and procuring estimates 
of the probable cost. 

As agents of the Commissioners, George Tibbits, John D. Dick- 
inson and Albert Pawling, were appointed to secure donations, land 
and moneys for the purpose of aiding in the construction of the con- 
templated canals. Books of subscriptions were opened at the book 
store of Parker & Bliss, and the citizens of Troy gave the project a 
liberal encouragement. 

The career of the village of Troy cannot but be contemplated 
with admiration. In the short period of a quarter of a century, it 
had achieved a position and an importance at home and abroad 
which but few other places of similar size had attained. It had suc- 
cessfully combated local prejudices and neighboring competition; 
it had become the seat of the County government in the face of as- 
persive criticism and moneyed men ; it had built mills and factories 
and made them busy with foreign orders and a continuous pat- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 107 

ronage; and it had given rich recompense to all who entered the 
widening channels of its commerce or who bought and sold within 
the marts of its domestic trade and distant traffic. There was no 
enterprise of any importance, either local or connected with the 
larger interests of the State, that did not receive from it a generous 
support. Its military organizations were prompt to obey the com- 
mands of the State and Nation, and always won highest encomiums 
for service and conduct in the line of duty. The educational inter- 
ests of the people were not forgotten. Public and select schools 
were provided, newspapers established, churches built, a library was 
organized, and anniversary occasions were not only seasons of 
amusement and celebration, but were honored with oratory and 
poetical contributions. Thus endowed, the village of Troy, with its 
President and Board of Trustees, closed its short but remarkable 
existence. 

Troy became an organized village under an act of the Legislature, 
passed March 25th, 1794. The trustees afthat time were merely the 
executive officers of the freeholders, and saw that the ordinances of 
the village were carried into effect by the people. On February 
1 6th, 1798, the village was more fully incorporated and five trustees 
were thereafter annually elected. The power of levying taxes was 
reserved to the vote of the people. On the 2d of April, i8ci, ad- 
ditional power was granted the trustees, and on March 3d, 1803, 
they were invested with certain other rights. By an act of the Leg- 
islature passed April 4th, 1806, the village was divided into four 
wards, and four trustees were authorized to be elected to represent 
each of these wards. Under this act a president of the board was 
annually appointed by the Governor and Council of Appointment. 
A charter was granted by the Legislature on the twelfth day of April, 
1 816, incorporating "the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Common- 
alty of the city of Troy." An election for charter officers of the 
city was held on Tuesday the fourteenth day of May, 18 16. The 
following persons were appointed as Inspectors of the Election : 

First Ward — Henry Townsend and Amos Salisbury. 

Second Ward — Hugh Peebles and John Loudon. 

Third Ward — William Bradley and Nathan Dauchy. 

Fourth Ward — Artemas Osgood and John P. Fellows. 

Fifth Ward — Jesse Tracy and Lemuel Hawley. 

Sixth Ward — Gerrit Vandenburgh and Nathaniel Adams. 

The election polls were in the 



Io8 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

First Wardy at the house of E. Bigelow. 

SecoTid Ward, at McNeil Seymour's. 

Third Ward, at Piatt Titus's. 

Fourth Ward, at John Pattison's. 

Fifth Ward, at George Pullen's. 

Sixth Ward, at the School House, near the house of the widow of 
David Deforest, deceased. 

The polls were opened at ten o'clock a. m. and closed at three p. m. 

The officers elected were one Alderman, one Assistant, one Con- 
stable and one Commissioner of Schools in each ward, and in the 
Fifth and Sixth wards there were also chosen three Inspectors of 
Schools, but no Assistant Aldermen ; also one Supervisor for the city 
who was voted for in all the wards. The persons qualified to vote 
were to be citizens of the United States, of the age of twenty-one 
years, who had resided in the village for six months, and rented a 
tenement of the yearly value of five dollars for the term of one year 
next immediately preceding the election, or possessed a freehold 
within the same, or had paid taxes within the same. With this elec- 
tion, the village of Troy closed its career. 




Fold-out Placeholdei 



This fold-out is being digitized, and will be inser 
at a future date. 





i^ -fe 



Fold-out Placeholder 



This fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserted 
at a future date. 



CHAPTER VI. 

From mv. Tyro-RpoRATioN of the City to the Visit of Gen. La Fayette. 
i3i6 TO 1824. 



The city of Troy incorporated the twelfth day of April, 18 16, 
was divided into six wards, whose limits were as follows: The First 
ward was bounded on the south by the Poestenkill, west by the river, 
north by a line drawn through the center of Ferry street, and east 
by the eastern limits of the village , the Second ward, on the south 
by a line drawn through Ferry street, west by the river, north by a 
line drawn through the center of State street, and east by the eastern 
limits of the village ; the Third ward, on the south by the north line 
of the Second ward, and north by a line through the center of 
Elbow (Fulton) street, and east by the eastern limits of the village; 
the Fourth ward, on the south by Third ward and north and east by 
north and east bounds of the village of Troy. The Fifth ward com- 
prised all that part, not included in either the said First, Second, 
Third or Fourth wards, lying north of a line beginning at the bridge 
starting across the Poestenkill, near the grist-mill of Townsend Mc- 
Coun, in said city, and running along the south line of the road 
running over and across said bridge, up the hollow, until it intersects 
the road usually called the Schuyler road, and then, by a line run- 
ning due south, to the south bounds of the city. The Sixth ward 
embraced all the rest and residue of the same city, not included in 
the before mentioned wards. The following persons were elected 
aldermen : 



Ward. Aldermen. 

I. George Allen, 
Hugh Peebles, 
Townsend McCoun, 
Stephen Ross, 
Lemuel Hawley, 
Philip Hart, Jr. 



Assistants. 

Amos Salisbury, 
John Loudon, 
GuRDON Corning, 
Henry Mallory. 



no HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

The Governor and Council of Appointment, appointed Albert 
Pawling,^ Mayor and William L. Marcy,^ Recorder. 

Among the peculiar laws enacted for the government of the city 
at this time, those regarding the duties of fire wardens and others 
belonging to the Fire Department of Troy, may be mentioned. 

"Whenever and as often as a fire broke out in the city, the fire 
wardens were immediately to repair to the same, with their staves as 
badges of their office." The fire engineers also were immediately 
to repair to the fire, having the crowns of their hats covered with 
white as a badge of their office. The conservators of property at 
fires, were also to repair to the same, having a piece of white cloth 
tied around the left arm, as a badge of their office, and were to take 
charge and custody of all goods or chattels which were in danger 
from such fire, and were to direct their removal to a secure place. 
All of the citizens and ^inhabitants were also to repair to the fire 
with their fire buckets, and there to be obedient to the orders of the 
fire engineers, fire wardens and conservators of property. In case 
a fire should happen in the night time, it was the duty of every owner 
and occupant of a house in the first, second, third and fourth wards, 
as soon as an alarm of fire was made, to place a lighted candle at 
the front door or front window of the house and to keep the same 
there during the night, unless such fire was sooner extinguished. 
Every fireman was to wear a fire hat at all fires and cleaning of the 
engines. It was the duty of the watchmen of the city to cause all 
fire buckets remaining at or about the place where any fire had re- 
cently happened, to remove them to the market house within twelve 
hours after such fire was extinguished. Every owner and occupant 
of a dwelling house, in the first, second, third and fourth wards of 
the city, with one or more fire places or stoves therein, was to pro- 
vide and keep good, sufficient and substantial fire buckets, made of 
leather according to the following specifications : for every dwelling 
house, having from one to two fire places or stoves, one fire bucket; 

1 The Mayors of Troy were appointed by the Governor and Council of Appointment until 
1821, after which they were elected annually by the Common Council until 1840, and since then 
by the popular vote. 

2 The Recorders of Troy were chosen by the Governor and Council of Appointment until 
1822 ; from 1822 until 1847, by the Governor and Senate, and in 1847 and subsequently, by the 
people. The term of the Recorder was for four years. He was elected at the general fall elec- 
tion, and took his seat in the Common Council at the first meeting after the first of January. 
The office was abolished by an act of the Legislature, passed April 17, 1867, and which took effect 
January i, 1868. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. I I I 

from two to four fire places or stoves, two fire buckets; from four to 
six fire places or stoves, three fire buckets; from eight to ten fire 
l^laces or stoves, five fire buckets; for every fireplace more than ten, 
one fire bucket. For every store, shop or tenement, in which mer- 
cantile business was done, the fire buckets to be kept were as fol- 
lows: for every store or shop of two stories front, two buckets; of 
three stories in front, three buckets, and of four stories or upwards 
in front, five buckets. On all fire buckets were to be marked or paint- 
ed the owner's name, and the number of the lot whereon the build- 
ing stood, to which the same belonged. The buckets were always 
to be kept in a place where they could be easi-ly reached in case of 
fire, and were not to be used for any other purpose but the extin- 
guishment of fires. The fire wardens were also to regulate the 
dimensions of chimneys, taking care that they should be large enough 
to admit chimney sweeps to sweep and clean the same. Disputes 
concerning the sufficiency and division of partition fences were to 
be determined by the fence viewers appointed by the city authorities. 
Every baker in the city was obliged to procure a license, and 
every loaf of bread baked by him was to be marked with the initials 
of his christian and surname, and in addition thereto, every loaf 
made of superfine flour was to be marked with the letter S., and 
every loaf of common flour with the letter C. The assize of bread 
was thus regulated by the Mayor from time to time: Every barrel of 
flour was estimated to produce four thousand and thirty-two ounces 
of bread ; and in order to ascertain the weight of a shilling loaf of 
the respective qualities of flour, the number of ounces were to be 
divided by a number equal to the number of shillings which a barrel 
of such quality might be worth, at the time of fixing the assize, and 
the number thirty-two added thereto being allowed the baker, the 
quotient was the number of ounces a shilling loaf would weigh, in 
the following manner: 

Suppose a barrel of flour worth - - 72 shillings. 

Compensation for baking, . - 32 " 

104 '' 
Divide 4032 by 104, the quotient would be 38-j\%, being the 
ounces the shilling loaf would weigh ; and whenever the fractional 
parts were less than half an ounce, they were to be taken off the 
loaf, and when half an ounce or more, an ounce was to be added to 
it. The same regulation and proportion were to be adopted and 



112 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 

observed for six-penny and all other loaves baked or sold within 
said city. 

Among the public excitements of this early period, was that pro- 
duced by a prophecy of Benjamin Gorton, who was then a 
resident of the town of Brunswick. Having a speculative 
mind, Benjamin Gorton, previous to 1800, had at various times ex- 
pressed himself as a believer in the sudden destruction of the earth, 
and in support of this opinion, he wrote a number of books, in 
which he set forth certain biblical prophecies and chronologies as 
proofs of his individual predictions. He also relied on the visions 
of certain contemporary persons, and various celestial phenomena 
occurring at this time, to substantiate and corroborate the Scrip- 
tural figures of Daniel and the other prophets. According to his 
belief the world was to come to an end on the 8th day of June, 1816. 
Many of the inhabitants of Troy were among his converts, and no 
little preparation was made by them preparatory to this day of destruc- 
tion of all mundane matter. When the day of prophecy arrived, the 
meteorological changes of atmosphere were singular for the time of 
the year. The day was extremely cold, brooks were frozen and a 
snow storm occurred. Vegetation was killed and the fruit crop 
injured. Benjamin Gorton's prophetical prognostications were 
ridiculed and the number of his followers decimated. However, 
he gave answers to his calumniators and continued to write books to 
authenticate his speculations. 

The ordination of Rev. Charles George Somers, as pastor of the 
First Baptist church of Troy, is thus described in the columns of 
the Budget : " On Wednesday last, (July loth,) the Rev. Charles 
George Somers was ordained to the care of the Baptist church and 
society in this city. The service was introduced with prayer by the 
Rev. Isaac Webb, of Albany; Rev. Archibald Maclay, of New York, 
delivered the sermon, from 2d Timothy, 2, 15: " Study to show 
thyself approved unto God, a workman that necdeth not to be asham- 
ed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Ordaining prayer by the 
Rev. Joseph Elliott, of Rockingham, Vt., and the concluding prayer 
by the Rev. S. Rowley, of Granville. The exercises were performed 
in a solemn and impressive manner, and the audience, which was 
numerous, was silent and attentive. The Baptist meeting house un- 
dergoing some alterations, the Presbyterians politely offered the use 
of theirs for the occasion, which was accepted." 

This congregation had erected in the year 1805, a small house of 



I 



[ISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



113 



worship, and in 1S13 luid built a small conference room lor evening 
meetings. In the year 181 7 a larger one was completed, and the 
association was greatly benefited by the ministrations of the Rev. 
Mr. Somers. Immersions were frequently performed in the river 
at the foot of Grand Division street. 

During this year, and for a number of years after the close of the 
war, all kinds of business and manufacturing interests were prostrat- 
ed, and many persons were in consequence unemployed. The 
papers were filled with dissertations on political economy; the peo- 
ple were admonished that riches come by saving and poverty by 
spending; the merchants were told not to buy more than they could 
sell, and the manufacturers were informed that the safest course for 
them was to suit their supplies to the regular laws of demand. The 
river during the three winters of these years of business depression 
and suffering, was singularly filled with a little scaleless fish, called 
"Tom Cod." This abundance of fish was considered a special gift 
of Providence, furnishing as it did, the tables of the great multitude 
with palatable and precious food. They have not in later years ap- 
peared in any abundance in the Hudson in the vicinity of Troy. 

From the year 181 7 to 1820, the Troy Library contained from six 
hundred and thirty-seven to six hundred and ninety-two 
volumes. Jacob L. Lane was then librarian, and the books 
were kept in his office, where William H. Young's book store is at 
present situated. 

Although business generally was everywhere dull and unprofitable, 
yet the shipping interests of Troy were apparently in a flourishing 
condition. On Sunday, April 6th, of this year, between thirty and 
forty sloops arrived at the docks from New York, Athens and other 
places along the river. And in the following week, flour, wheat and 
provisions were shipped from Troy, amounting in value to two hun- 
dred thousand dollars. The flour was the manufacture of the four 
mills in the southern part of the city. 

One of the greatest blessings ever conferred by the Legislature of 
New York, was the grand enactment which abolished slavery within 
the borders of the State By the act passed March 29, 1799, ^^ '^^^ 
declared that every child born of a slave within the State, after the 
fourth of July, 1799, should be free, but was to remain with the 
owner, mother, executors, and assigns, until the age of twenty- 
eight years if a male, and if a female, until twenty-five years of age; 
and that every child born of a slave after the passage of the act, was 



I 14 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 

to remain a servant until the age of twenty-one years, and every 
negro, mulatto or mustee, within the State, born before the fourth of 
July, 1799, was from and after the fourth of July, 1827, to be free 
The passage of this law was received by the colored people with 
great rejoicings. On Sunday, July 13th, 1817, the children and 
colored people of the several Sunday schools in the city, numbering 
from eight hundred to one thousand persons, assembled with their 
officers and teachers in the Presbyterian church, in the afternoon, 
and celebrated it as an anniversary occasion. 

In the year 181 8, Prof. Amos Eaton, the first man in America to 
inaugurate the present lecture system, so popular and in- 
structive in its aim, in company with Dr. Moses Hale and 
Dr. Ira M. Wells, of Troy, projected the incorporation of the Troy 
Lyceum of Natural History, for the purpose of encouraging the 
study and disseminating a knowledge of natural history and of the 
other sciences. Jas. Dalaby, Richard P. Hart, Isaac McConihe, Dr. 
Ely Burritt and George Tibbits, constituted a body corporate and 
i:)olitic by the name of "The Troy Lyceum of Natural History." 
At the first stated meeting on the 9th day of November, 181 8, John 
D. Dickinson was chosen President, James Dalaby First-Vice Presi- 
dent, David Buel, Jr., Second-Vice President, Obed Rice, Recording 
Secretary, Dr. Amatus Robbins, Corresponding Secretary, Albert 
Pawling Heartt, Treasurer, and Dr. Moses Hale, Dr. Ira M. Wells 
and Dr. Amatus Robbins, Curators. The office of Curator was one of 
great labor and required a very accurate knowledge of science. The 
duties of the Curators were to superintend and preserve all the prop- 
erty, arrange it in the cases, name scientifically and enter in proper 
books all the mineralogical, botanical and other collected specimens. 
"A year from its commencement it numbered among its members 
some of the most celebrated men in the United States, and the pub- 
lications of its transactions were circulated from one end of the 
country to the other. This was, indeed, the first society of the kind 
in America, The celebrity of this one, brought others into exis- 
tence elsewhere. In the fall of 1 819, "The Plough Boy " a valuable 
and scientific paper published in Albany, by Solomon Southwick, 
was the medium for the publication of its transactions. The society 
first met in the school house near the old church of St. Paul's, but 
subsequently a suitable hall was procured in the Court house in 
which the specimens were kept and where the meetings were held. 
On the 7th of March, 1820, the Society was incorporated by the 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. I I 5 

Legislature. The Society was prosperous until the fire of 1820, 
when many of the books and records of the Lyceum, which were 
kept in Dr. I. M. Wells' store, were destroyed. This loss was a 
great blow and a check to the Society, from which it never fully re- 
covered. It however continued its regular meetings and transac- 
tions until 1828, when the Court House was taken down. The 
specimens of the Lyceum, for want of a hall or other proper place 
to keep them in, were boxed up and stored away for safe keeping. 
In 1833, the Lyceum was resuscitated, and a hall was procured in 
the new Court House, and its minerals and other specimens of value 
were again placed in cases."' 

Amos Eaton, who associated himself with the interests of the 
Troy Lyceum, was also the originator of the establishment of the 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or " Rensselaer School," as it was 
termed, in the year 1824. He was " born in the town of Chatham, 
Columbia county, N. Y , on the 17th of May, 1776. His father was 
a farmer, and a highly respected citizen of that town. The son 
early manifested superior ability and high aspirations. At the age 
of sixteen he had made himself a practical land surveyor, making 
his own magnetic needle and compass case out of the rude material 
at hand With the encouragement of his parents, he fitted for col- 
lege, and at the age of twenty-three he graduated at Williams 
College in 1799, ^^'^^^^ ^ ^'^'^S^^ reputation for his scientific attainments. 
He commenced the study of the law with Elisha Williams, in Col- 
umbia county, soon after graduating, and continued the study of law 
in New York, in the office of Josiah Ogden Hoffman. It was in 
New York that he came under the instruction of Dr. Hosack and 
Dr Mitchell, and became interested in botany and other natural 
sciences to such a degree that he never could wholly resist the sway 
of his enthusiasm for those pursuits. He was admitted an attorney 
of the Supreme Court of this State at Albany in 1802, and located 
as lawyer and land agent at Catskill. Here he gave his first course 
of popular lectures on botany, and prepared a small elementary 
treatise on the subject He attended lectures at New Haven in 
18 15 In 18 1 7 he returned to Williamstown and gave lectures to 
the students on botany, mineralogy and geology. The first edition 
of his * Manual of Botany ' was published this year. He continued 
his public lectures in the large towns of New England and New 

I From an address on the life of Dr. Moses Hale, delivered before the Troy Lyceum, March 
12, 1838, by Hon. Isaac McConihe. 



Il6 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

York, exciting great attention and interest in the natural sciences. 
In 1818, Governor De Witt Clinton invited him to Albany, and he 
gave a course of lectures before the members of the Legislature, 
In 1820, he was appointed Professor of Natural History in the Med- 
ical College at Castleton, Vt , and delivered several courses of 
lectures there. About this time he seems to have settled down and 
made his home in Troy, and extended his system of instruction to 
the people, and with the co-operation of many of the citizens at that 
time, the ' Lyceum of Natural History ' was formed, and one of the 
most extensive collections of American geological specimens in 
the whole country was gathered and arranged."' 

The horse-ferry boat which for many years plied between West 
Troy and Troy, was placed in the river in the latter part of 
^ the month of May, 1819. It is referred to in the Budget of 
June the first, as follows: '' The Horse Boat invented by Mr. Lang- 
don, has now been in operation at Mr. Van Derheyden's ferry, in this 
city during last week. The machinery is built upon a common scow. 
The boat crosses the river, which is less than a quarter of a mile, in 
four minutes. It is confidently expected that for the purpose of 
dispatch, and on the ground of economy, this boat will be in high 
repute and general use throughout the United States." The boat is 
better described by Professor Benjamin Silliman, in his tour to Que- 
bec in 1819: "Nearly six miles from Albany, we crossed the river 
into Troy. The ferry boat is of most singular construction. A 
platform covers a wide flat boat. Underneath the platform, there is 
a large horizontal solid wheel which extends to the sides of the boat; 
and there the platform or deck is cut through, and removed, so as to 
afford sufficient room for two horses to stand on the flat surface of 
the wheel, one horse on each side and parallel to the gunwale of the 
boat The horses are harnessed in the usual manner for teams, the 
whififle-trees being attached to stout iron bars, fixed horizontally, at a 
proper height into posts, which are a part of the fixed portion of the 
boat. The horses look in opposite directions, one to the bow and 
the other to the stern; their feet take hold of channels or groves cut 
in the wheels, in the direction of radii ; they press forward, and 
although they advance not, any more than a squirrel in a revolving 
cage, or than a spit dog at his work, their feet cause the horizontal 
wheel to revolve, in a direction opposite to that of their own appar- 

I From an address of Hon. James Forsyth, President of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 
June 17, 1874. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. i i 7 

ent motion; tliis by a connection of cogs, moves vertical wheels, one 
on each wing of the boat, and these, being constructed like the pad- 
dle wheels of steamboats, produce the same effect, and propel the 
boat forward. The horses are covered by a roof, furnished with 
curtains, to protect them in bad weather; they do not appear to labor 
harder than common draft horses with a heavy load. The inventor 
of this boat is Mr. Langdon, of Whitehall, and it claims important 
advantages of simplicity, cheapness and effect. At first view, the 
labor appears like a hardship upon the horses, but probably this is 
an illusion, as it seems very immaterial to their comfort, whether they 
advance with their load, or cause the basis on which they labor, to 
recede." In 1824 two of these boats were in successful operation 
at the two ferries of Troy, and thirty-one elsewhere. Professor Sil- 
liman, who did not remain any length of time in Troy, further writes 
of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History: "A number of its (Troy) 
gentlemen have discovered their attachment to science, by the insti- 
tution of a Lyceum of Natural History, which, fostered by the ac- 
tivity, zeal and intelligence of its members, and its lecturer, Mr, 
Eaton, promises to be a public benefit, and to elevate the character 
of the place." 

The organization of the Rensselaer County Agricultural Society 
was effected on the third day of June, 181 9. A meeting of the 
farmers and others interested in the science of agriculture and gen- 
eral farming, was convened in the Court House, at which the follow- 
ing persons were chosen as the first officers of the association: 
George Tibbits, President; H. Knickerbacker, First Vice President; 
Simon Newcomb, Second Vice President ; Edmund C. Genet, Third 
Vice President ; Philip Heartt, Treasurer ; George R Davis, Corres- 
ponding Secretary ; and Henry Hoyle, Recording Secretary. The 
first exhibition of the society was held at Troy on the second of 
October, 1819, and was largely attended by the inhabitants of Troy 
and neighboring places in the county. 

The most calamitous event recorded in the early history of Troy 
was a disastrous fire which occurred on Tuesday afternoon 
of the twentieth day of June, 1820. At this time as here- 
tofore mentioned, business was dull; the manufacturing interests of 
the whole country were suffering for want of orders and money to 
keep them in operation; and bankruptcy had come to the doors of 
many of the most enterprising and industrious. At this unfortunate 
juncture of public affairs, the fire, which is described in the Budget 



I I 8 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 

of June 27th, occurred; and which in so small a place caused great 
distress and loss of valuable property. 

"An Awful and Destructive Fire ! ! — An awful calamity has 
fallen upon our city. The fairest, though not the largest portion of 
it, is in ruins. About four o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday last, 
a fire was discovered bursting from a barn in the rear of Col. Thos. 
Davis' house, and immediately became uncontrollable. The whole 
range of stores on the west side of River street, from Dr Gale's to 
Dr. Coming's store, containing an immense amount of property, and 
all the buildings between River street and First street, from Vail's 
brick store and dwelling house to Wm. S. Parker's bookstore, inclu- 
sive, except the Troy Bank, are entirely consumed. The wind be- 
ing from the south, the conflagration spread with frightful rapidity 
to the north. Our citizens, with the timely aid of some fire engines 
from Lansingburgh, Albany, Waterford, and the United States Ar- 
senal, and the citizens of those places, made a great and successful 
effort to stop it at Dr. Coming's store. IV/ia^ 7vas once the scene of 
our principal business^ is now the seat of desolation ! I The loss is es- 
timated to be from Seven Hundred Thousand to a Million of Dollars I 
Though considerable sums were insured on the property, a great 
portion of the insurance stock is owned by the very men upon 
whom this calamity has fallen with its almost unsustainable weight. 
The following is a complete list of sufferers, which has been politely 
furnished us : 

"Beginning at Corning & Co.'s store, (now Fisk, Cowee & Co.'s,) 
where the fire was finally arrested, and proceeding down River 
street on the west side, the following is a correct statement of build- 
ings destroyed : D. Buel, store, wood, two-story, occupied by 
Daniel H. Stone as a paper warehouse. Elder Isaac Webb, two 
two-story wood stores, occupied by E. Mosely, grocer, and R. Reed 
as a stove factory. E. Warren & Co., seven-story brick store. A. 
& W Kellogg & Co., six-story brick store. J. Holmes, six-story 
brick store. R. P. Hart & Co., six-story, wood. Daniel Merritt & 
Son, seven-story brick. Gardner & Patterson, six-story wood. A. 
Fellows, four-story wood, jewelers' factory. A. Anthony, four-story 
wood, unoccupied. A. Anthony, three-story brick store and dwell- 
ing. T. McCoun, six-story brick store. (North-west corner River 
and State streets.) 

" I. Merritt & Son, six-story brick store, (south-west corner of 
River and State streets). Thos. Davis, five-story brick store. A. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 119 

Larcom, two-story wood, grocery and provision store, E. Morgan, 
two-story wood, occupied by R. Gideons, hair dresser and dwelling, 
E. Morgan, three-story wood store. F- Morgan, three-story brick, 
on the wharf. P. Heartt & Sons, six-story brick, hardware, A. 
Crandall & C\, two-story wood, groceries, provisions and dwelling. 
Solomon Wilbur, Jr., three-story wood, occupied by Henry Stock- 
well as a bookstore, bindery and d.velling. J. Weld, three-story 
wood tinware factory. J. Weld, three-story wood, hardware. Heirs 
of James R. Smith, four-story wood store, occupied by Isaac Brink- 
erhoof, hardware. Heirs of James R. Smith, two-story wood, occu- 
])ied by Cornelius Adriance as a hat store and dwelling. Heirs of 
James R. Smith, two-story wood, hat manufactory in the rear. Z. 
Filer, one-story wood, tailor's shop. Dr. Gale, two-story wood, oc- 
cupied by James Young, jeweler. The fire was arrested at Gale's 
store, the Post-office, (now J. L. Thompson, Sons & Co.) by the ex- 
traordinary exertions of a few gentlemen The building was fre- 
quently on fire. In all the preceding buildings, the stories are 
counted on the wharfs. 

" Proceeding up River street on the east side, beginning at H. & 
G. Vail's brick stores, oi)posite the Post-office. Mr, McGready, 
three two-story wood buildings, occupied by James Adams as a 
shoe store, and D. McKelsie as a chair factory and sales shop, and 
Miss Brown, milliner. P. Heartt & Sons, one-story wood office, oc- 
cupied by Wm. M. Bliss, Esq. P. Heartt & Sons, three-story brick 
front, occupied by James Wallace as a grocery and dwelling, and 
three other families for dwellings. P. Heartt & Sons, three-story 
elegant brick store, filled with hardware from the cellar to the gar- 
ret Nathan Betts, two-story wood, occupied by Mr. Hicks as a 
grocery and dwelling. C. Adriance, two-story wood, occupied by 
Mr. Taylor and Mr. Deming. George Tibbits, three-story brick 
front, occupied by two widows as groceries and dwellings. C. 
Pease, two-story wood, occupied by Thomas Houghton, grocer. 
Seven two-story wood, five owned by Benjamin Covell, one by J. 
Weld, one owner unknown, occupied by Mr Defreest as a grocery, 
provision store and dwelling. Mr. Douglass, saddler's shop and 
dwelling. Wm, Osborne, bakery and dwelling. Mr. Hascall, milli- 
nery shop and dwelling. Weld & Brandt, coppersmith's shop and 
stove factory William Perry, locksmith. George White, printer, 
dwelling house. E. Reed, shoemaker's shop and dwelling. Jesse 
Boutwell, Miss Wilson, and probably other dwellings. 



I20 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

"D G. Bears, two-story wood, stables, horse shed and a one-story 
house adjoining, occupied by Amos Allen as a tavern, north-east 
corner of State and River streets. Moore & Pitcher, two-story brick 
store and dwelling. Joseph Brintnall, two-story wood, dry goods. 
E. Warren & Co., three-story brick, occupied by Southwick, Cannon 
& Warren, wholesale dry goods. Hart & Nazro, hardware. D . Lane, 
dry goods. I. M. Wells, druggist, the books, papers, &c., about 
$ioo in cash, belonging to the County medical society, are lost , Troy 
library, best part, some cash and some account books. Pierce & 
Sacket, crockery. M. McFadden, dry goods and millinery. William 
S Parker, book store, bindery and office of the Troy Post; all three 
story brick, and owned by A. & D. Lane, (now Hall's building.) 

" Proceeding down First street, on the west side, Dickinson & 
Mitchell, two-story brick office, and a two-story wood house ; two 
tenements occupied by Hezekiah Williams and O. Eaton ; all owned 
by A. & D. Lane. Bank of Troy, corner of First and State streets, 
some damaged. 

" Messrs. Paine's office, two-story wood, opposite ; (south-west cor- 
ner of State and River streets.) Farmers' Bank, occupied by H. 
Peebles, Esq., contents of vaults saved George Gardner, two-story 
wood dwelling. Mrs. Dr. Nott, two-story brick. L Lyman's dwel- 
ling. Dr. Burritt, two-story wood, his dwelling and office. Thomas 
Davis, two-story wood, his dwelling ; the fire originated in Colonel 
Davis' stable. On State street, between First and River streets. 
Isaac Merritt, two-story wood dwelling, occupied by Joseph Deuel. 
George Tibbits, two-story wood, occupied by Frederick Tator and 
Asaph Humphrey, as dwellings. D. G. Bears, one two-story wood and 
one of one-story wood occupied by Cyrus Hewett, William Phelps 
and A. Hill, as dwellings. Total sixty-nine stores and houses, be- 
sides about twelve stables, as many wood-houses; about ninety-three 
buildings." 

The Mayor, Hon. Esaias Warren, to mitigate the sufferings of the 
needy, and to relieve t]ie wants of the impoverished people, made a 
public appeal for aid through the newspapers, and a local committee 
was appointed to distribute such donations as were immediately for- 
warded to the distressed city. Among the many generous contribu- 
tions received from various portions of the state and country, the 
following were published in the papers : 

From Messrs. William F. and Samuel Mott, of New York city, $ 50 OO 

William D. Cheever, 1 00 00 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. I 2 I 

William Stevenson, Cambridge, 50 00 

Mr. Pond, Hartford, Conn., 10 00 

John Hone, Esq., New York City 20 00 

Gilbert Wilkinson, Poughkeepsie, 5 00 

Joseph Graham, New York city, 100 00 

Unknown, in New York city, 30 oa 

Edward P. Livingston, New York city loo 00 

Benjamin De Forest & Co., New York city 50 00 

From the Committee of the Second Ward 521 22 

From the Committee of the Third W\ard, 838 00 

Elder Ward, of Pittstown, a quantity of pork. James Canby, 
Brandywine, Pa., through his agents Thomas Buckley & Son, New 
York City, ten barrels of flour. From the United Society of Believ- 
ers, at Watervliet, by their agents Peter Dodge and Luther Wells, 
two wagon loads of valuable provisions and useful articles. Colonel 
Albert Pawling, $20. Julius Hanks, of Gibbonsville, $20. 

The City of New York sent the following general donations : 

First Ward by Alderman Tooker, $2,000 00 

Second Ward by Alderman Townsends, 1 ,020 80 

Third Ward by Mr. Talman, 627 70 

Fourth Ward by Alderman Anthony and others, 643 ig 

Fifth Ward by Mr. Town and others 292 63 

Sixth Ward by Mr. Reynolds, 494 91 

Seventh Ward by Alderman Mann 428 10 

Eighth Ward by Gen. North, 386 75 

Tenth Ward by Mr. Munson, 333 22 

$6,227 35 
The committee appointed to receive donations, for the relief of 
the sufferers from the fire, reported on the 19th of March, 1821, that 
they had received in money fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty- 
two dollars and forty-nine cents, and in flour, provisions, vegetables, 
cheese, clothing and sundry household utensils, to a considerable 
amount. The committee expressed the great obligations under which 
Troy had been placed by the contributions from the different states, 
cities and towns, and to the United Society of Believers, commonly 
called Shakers, at Enfield and Canterbury, New Hampshire; at Pitts- 
field and Tyringham, Mass. ; at Enfield, Conn., and at New Lebanon 
and Watervliet, (Niskayuna) in this State, for the promptitude with 
which they came to the relief of Troy, loaded with the fruits of 
their charity. The members of the committee were Gurdon Corn- 
ing, Joseph Russell, William Bradley, Joseph D. Selden, Zephaniah 
Filer, Thomas Skelding and Lewis Lyman. 
16 



122 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

These generous gifts were thankfully received and apportioned 
among the necessitous people. The appeal was answered by other 
donations of money, food and clothing from many different people 
and places, which the Troy people afterwards imitated whenever the 
cry of distress came up from an afflicted community. 

The twelfth day of July was observed in Troy by all the churches 
as a day of public humiliation and prayer 

The following incident connected with the fire appeared in the 
Budget of July 4th, 1820 "The immense quantity of grain, flour, 
provisions, &c., with which many stores four, five and six stories high 
were crowded full, still burn like a coal pit, and such is the depth of 
the cellars, that it is at present quite impracticable totally to extin- 
guish the fire. It is a singular fact that whole barrels of wheat flour 
have been completely charred by the late fire and without the aid of 
water, formed a coal harder than that made from hard wood. A 
piece of this coal was taken from the ruin by a gentleman, who kept 
it sometime in his hands and handed it to others, and then carried it 
to Piatt Titus' tavern, and delivered it to him to keep until he should 
leave the city, as he intended to take it with him. Piatt Titus laid 
it in his bar and after some time it was discovered that the coal was 
on fire, and was burning so freely that had it not been discovered it 
is probable the house would soon have been in flames from it." 

For the better protection of property in the city, a fire law was 
passed July 8th, which exhibits an extreme carefulness on the part 
of the city authorities. "No person shall smoke or carry any light- 
ed or burning segar or pipe, in any street, alley, barn, stable or out- 
house in the city, upon pain of forfeiting and paying for each and 
every such offence, the penalty of one dollar." Two suction engines 
were ordered from New York city by the corporation, and the city 
placed under the strictest surveillance of two fire wardens and the 
public conservators of property. The Rensselaer and Saratoga In- 
surance Company lost by this fire one hundred and ten thousan-d 
dollars, all of which was paid in sixty days thereafter. 

A meeting of the military officers residing in the county of Rens- 
selaer, was called to meet at the house of Captain Samuel Mowris, 
in Troy, on the loth of October, 1820. At this meeting. Major S. 
Cheever was called to the chair, and Lieutenant W. Palmer, was ap- 
pointed Secretary. A constitution was then submitted to the meet- 
ing and adopted as the basis of the Rensselaer Military Association. 
The following persons were elected as officers thereof: Lieutenant 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 123 

Colonel V.'illiam L. Marcy, President; Colonel George R. Davis, First 
Vice President ; Major Edward Whitford, Second Vice President ; 
Colonel Barent Schuyler, Marshal; Major John Woodworth, Jr., Cor- 
responding Secretary; Major Thomas Turner, Jr., Recording Secre- 
tary; Lieutenant Alex. B.Converse, Treasurer. The other ofificers 
present were Major D. S. Wendell, Captain R. Christie, Captain C. 
Schuyler, Captain H. Mallory, Captain A. Bull, Captain J. Ladue, 
Captain H. F. Bayeux and Lieutenant Benj. Snedeker. 

The establishment of a plough manufactory in Troy in the year 
i8>-3, by Nathaniel and Charles Starbuck, was an accession of no 
little importance to its business interests. For many years the farm- 
ers had been accustomed to use the rudest forms of farming imple- 
ments. The ploughs with which they prepared their fields for seeding, 
were known as " bull-ploughs," the share of which was made of steel 
and the mould-board of wood. Quite an aversion existed among 
the Dutch farmers for any innovating forms of machinery and farm- 
inp; implements, and the firm of N. & C. Starbuck had great difficul- 
ty in introducing the improved Wood plough, which they had then 
begun to manufacture. It is said that the Dutch farmers had a 
superstitous belief that these iron ploughs "poisoned the soil and 
made the rocks grow." To overcome these singular prejudices, the 
Starbuck firm were accustomed to go into t!ie country and leave one 
of their make of ploughs at every farm, asking the farmer to give it 
a fair trial, and agreeing to remove it on their return, if he was not 
disposed to purchase. The Starbuck Plough Manufactory was on 
tb? west side of River street, south of the present site of Fulton 
Market. The Rensselaer County Agricultural Fair was a great bene- 
fit to this firm, where they not only exhibited the qualities of their 
ploughs but also received merited diplomas. By these different 
means the Starbuck firm increased their sales and became widely 
known as the makers of the Jethro Wood plough. Previous to the 
year 1821, the first foundry ever established in Troy, was owned by 
Alpheus Hanks, Ephraim Gurley and Truman Hanks. It was situa- 
ted on the south-east corner of Fifth and Grand Division streets, and 
was known as the Troy Air Furnace. In April, 1821, Ephraim Gurley 
was taken into the firm of C. & N. Starbuck, which was changed to 
the name of Starbucks & Gurley. Having purchased the Hot Air 
Furnace, and being the owners of the Troy Plough Factory, the 
firm began the casting of parts of machinery, ploughs, kettles, cauld- 
rons and stoves. In 1S23, Charles Starbuck died, and the firm was 



I 24 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

then Starbuck & Gurley. After many other changes, the Starbuck 
firm of the present day, are the enterprising successors of these 
earlier partners. 

Velocipedes at this early date were to be seen passing rapidly 
through the streets of Troy, propelled by the action of riders strik- 
ing the road-way with their feet, and thus moving them onward with 
strides from twenty to thirty feet. The most successful of veloci- 
pedists in the city was Martin Russell, who was in the habit of riding 
his velocipede from Congress street to the Waterford bridge and 
return, a distance of eight miles, in an hour. 

The notable enterprise of the Troy merchants and other business 
men was not destroyed by the burning of their stores and 
warehouses, but on the contrary their misfortunes seem to 
have inspirited them to renewed effort and to greater undertakings. 
In an article in the Troy Post of January 23d, 1821, the city and its 
prospects are thus described: "The amount of business transacted 
in this city during the last fall and present winter, far exceeds what 
could have been expected. Notwithstanding the low prices of country 
produce, hundreds of sleighs from the north and west daily thronged 
our streets for several weeks. The growing preference which the 
western farmers, who have grain to dispose of, give to this market, is 
an earnest of the future increase of the business of this city. The 
gloom which overspread our citizens immediately after the fire has 
disappeared. The desponding feelings excited by the view of the 
smoking ruins of the most commercial section of the city, were dissi- 
pated, when we saw about twenty-five new edifices reared amidst the 
ruins in the short space of five months after the fire. The extensive 
preparations now making for building, give additional animation to 
the scene. During the ensuing season, that portion of our city which 
was desolated by the fire, will be covered with buildings much supe- 
rior in construction and value to those which were destroyed. Not 
only will our waste places be rebuilt, but other parts of the city will 
be improved by the erection of substantial buildings. Our enter- 
prising merchants, far from sinking under their losses, have braced 
themselves to the shock and seem to have acquired new vigor in ca- 
lamity. The poorer classes of our citizens, and those who were 
reduced to poverty by the fire, have been so far relieved by the 
charitable contributions of our citizens, that no instance of actual 
personal suffering, it is believed, now exists. And, although the loss 
of property was almost unparalleled, we rejoice that our merchants 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 



125 



still command a capital for business equal to the exigencies of the 
extensive section of country of which this city is the natural market. 
The desolating fire will long be remembered as an afflicting dispen- 
sation of Providence; but under its gracious smiles, the enterprise 
of our citizens, will in a few years retrieve the losses they have sus- 
tained." 

The establishment of the Female Seminary in Troy in the year 
1 82 1, gave to the city an institution for the education of young wo- 
men which at that time had not its equal in the United States. The 
l)rincipal, Mrs. Emma Willard, was the first woman in America to 
place the standard of female education upon the same plane of study 
which was then pursued by young men in the various colleges and 
higher academies in the land. In the year 1819, while teaching in 
Middlebury, Vt., she submitted her plan for improving the education 
of females to Governor De Witt Clinton, at Albany. The Governor 
was convinced by this able teacher of the need of such an institu- 
tion as was proposed by her, and through his influence and that of 
others, she was induced to remove her school to Waterford, with the 
understanding that she would receive the necessary aid from the 
State, which was needed to carry out her plans. The only legisla- 
tive action taken, however, was the passage of a bill incorporating 
an institution on the plan proposed, appointing a board of trustees, 
and nominating Rev. Samuel Blatchford, President of the board. 
The school was placed under the inspection of the Regents of the 
University, and was to receive a share of the State literary fund. 
Mrs. Willard was at length compelled to relinquish the plans she 
had formed for the establishment of a female seminary at Waterford, 
for want of money, which was not appropriated, as expected, by the 
State Legislature, and to accept a proposition from the people of 
Troy to become tlie principal of an institution in their city. The 
corporation of Troy proposed to raise by tax four thousand dollars, 
and another fund was promised through subscriptions by the citi- 
zens. In the spring of 1821, she removed from Waterford, and in 
May began teaching in the lecture room of the Lyceum, and occu- 
pied two adjoining houses for ladies' studies and lodging rooms. 
In the meantime the old wooden building formerly known as Moul- 
ton's Coffee House, sixty by forty feet, three stories high, contain- 
ing twenty-two rooms and a large ball-chamber, was purchased by 
the corporation, and was stripped of its weather-boarding, leaving 
nothing else than the frame and floors. The frame was filled in 



126 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

with brick, and rooms arranged according to plans made by Mrs. 
Emma Willard. The building was to be completed in September, 
to be three stories in height above the basement, and to contain a 
dining room, as well as a kitchen and laundry. Many of the 
teachers had been educated by her for their several positions, and 
thus the institution was at once prepared for the career Avhich was 
so auspiciously opened for it in Troy. 

The Faculty was made up of the following persons: Mrs. Emma 
Willard, principal ; Miss Elizabeth Sherrill, Angelica Gilbert, Mary 
Heywood and Elizabeth P. Huntington, teachers ; Miss Sarah W. 
Ingalls, Mary H. Field, Mary E. Aiken and Elizabeth Whiting, as- 
sistant teachers. The pupils who attended the first session of the 
school from Troy were : Mary E. Aikin, Clarissa Butler, Hannah 
Corning, Julia F. Converse, Maria Cushman, Deborah Doolittle, 
Adaline Fassett, Emily Fitch, Mary Gardner, Lucretia Hudson, 
Theodosia Hudson, Angelica R. Lane, Harriet Mead, Lucretia 
Paine, Elizabeth Redfield, Julia Russell, Mary E. Richards, Mary 
Sim, Phebe Titus, Julia F. Tracey, Julia Truesdell, Sarah Vander- 
heyden, Maria Vandenburgh, Mary M. Wilson, Mary Warren, Lydia 
Warren, Harriet Warren, Phebe Warren and Mary Waters. The 
catalogue embraced ninety names of pupils in attendance from 
Troy and elsewhere. Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, Massachu- 
setts, Vermont and Connecticut were represented in the list of 
scholars. 

The first Trustees of the Seminary were : Amasa Paine, David 
Buel, Jr., William Bradley, Joseph Russell, Richard P. Hart, James 
Mallory, Nathan Warren and Jeremiah Dauchy. The Committee 
of Ladies were : Mrs. Eunice Pawling, Mrs. Sally Tibbits, Mrs. Ann 
Douglass, Mrs. Elhelinda Selden, Mrs. Olivia Mallory, Mrs. Mary 
Mabbet, Mrs. Angelica Lane, Mrs Lydia Warren, Mrs. Sally Bliss 
and Mrs. Abigail Coe. 

The death of Rev. Jonas Coe, on Sunday evening, July 21, 1822, 
deprived Troy of the best and most honored man among 
its inhabitants. The Presbyterian Church was not only be- 
reaved of a faithful, an affectionate and a noble pastor, but the peo- 
ple in general, the local societies and neighboring communities, 
mourned his departure with no common sorrow. In an obituary 
notice, he is spoken of in these truthful words : " It has seldom 
fallen to our lot to record the death of a man so much beloved, and 
so extensively useful. He has been a faithful and laborious servant 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 



127 



in the vineyard of his Lord and Master. He has been a practical, 
an everyday preacher of the i^ospcL In the sacred desk he has 
faithfully exhibited the humbling and purifying doctrines of the 
Cross ; in his daily walk and conversation he has given a constant 
and living reproof to the profane, to the worldly-minded citizen, 
and the cold professor. In his life he exemplified the christian du- 
ties, in his death the christian graces. His private character was 
truly amiable. He was an affectionate husband, and the tenderest 
of parents. In his intercourse with society he was truly polite, for 
his actions were regulated by the essence of politeness — true benev- 
olence. In his last illness, he manifested the most perfect resigna- 
tion to the will of Heaven After taking a most affectionate leave 
of his family, he died, or rather fell asleep in Jesus, about 8 o'clock, 
without a struggle or a groan. 

"His mind was tranquil and serene. 
No terrors in his looks were seen." 

"Well may an eye-witness say, 'Let me die the death of the right- 
eous and let my last end be like his.' His loss will be deplored not 
only by his own church and congregation, to whose hearts he was 
very dear, but by many neighboring churches to whom he has been 
a father , by many neighboring pastors, to whom he has been a coun- 
sellor and a friend, and by the Presbyterian churcli at large, in whose 
councils he has often presided. His funeral will be attended and a 
sermon delivered this day at three o'clock p. m,, in the Presbyterian 
church "* 

Thus passed away the first preacher of the gospel to the inhabi- 
tants of Troy. On a tablet in the first Presbyterian church, is the 
following inscription: "Inscribed to the memory of Rev. Jonas 
Coe, D. D., ordained first pastor of this church, June 25, 1793; 
died July 21, 1822, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, having dis- 
charged the duties of an affectionate and faithful shepherd twenty- 
nine years " 

This vacancy in the pulpit of the first Presbyterian church, was 
filled by Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, of the Presbytery of Georgia. 
He preached his first sermon to the congregation on the first Sunday 
in September, 1822. A call was given him the eleventh day of the 
following November. He did not, however, officiate regularly as 
the pastor of the church until June, 1823, when he returned from a 
visit to the south, where he had passed the winter for the benefit of 

I Troy Post, July 23, 1822. 



128 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

his health. His installment as pastor of the Presbyterian church 
and congregation on Wednesday, the i8th of June, 1823, was as fol- 
lows : 

"The Rev. Mr Rodgers, of Sandy Hill, introduced the public 
solemnities of the day by imploring the divine benediction — 
reading the Scriptures, and an appropriate Hymn — and 
supplicating the throne of Grace The sermon was preached by the 
Rev. Nathaniel S. Prime, of Cambridge, from 2 Cor. 6, 10: 'As poor 
yet making many rich.' The Rev. Dr. Blatchford, of Lansingburgh, 
presided, and gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. Absalom 
Peters, of Bennington, delivered an address to the congregation. 
The concluding prayer was offered up by the Rev. John R Coe, of 
Whitehall. 

" Of all the exercises of the day, it may be said with great truth, 
that they were highly appropriate and instructive. Fixed and solemn 
attention pervaded the assembly; and we trust that the records of 
another world will show, that the interesting and affecting scene has 
been followed by much good. The musick of the day was selected 
with judgment and performed with taste, and could not fail of ex- 
citing the finest emotions, and of receiving the approbation of every 
lover of song." 1 

The spirit with which Troy set forth its claims as the head of steam 
navigation on the Hudson, is clearly illustrated in the following arti- 
cle, and which also shows the practical wisdom which governed its 
prosperity and growth at that time : "It is already felt at Troy, that 
measures of self-defence are necessary. Competition is awakened 
on every side. Still self-defence is not the only object. Troy has 
an acquired right to share fully in porportion to its capital and spirit 
in the trade which it contributes to open with the regions of the west. 
It depends on the spirit of this community to secure that valuable 
right. A new era in our internal commerce is this year to commence. 
It is not only the interior of this growing commonwealth, but that 
boundless traffic which has heretofore been divided between New 
Orleans, Philadelphia and Montreal, that is now to flow through a 
middle channel, direct to New York, and must have a convenient 
place of transhipment at the head of steam navigation on the Hudson 
Shall this be Albany or shall it be Troy? 

"Troy cannot likewise have the privilege of steam navigation for 
sixteen years to come, unless under the rights of a Patentee in steam 

I Troy Post, June 24, 1823. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 129 

navigation, who can oppose the monopoly, or operate independently 
of its license under the protection of the laws of che United States, 
ready to be extended to it according to the law of Congress, of Feb- 
ruary, 18 19. 

" We know that capital commn-nds business. But as there is also 
capital at Albany, let adequate causes combine to lead the main cur- 
rent of trade there, and the capital of Troy may in a considerable 
degree follow it. Such is invariably the practice of men, and espec- 
ially of young men in business. Leave this place in possession of 
its natural advantages only, and give Albany all tl.e artificial advan- 
tages contemplated, and its prosperity will be greatly increased, and 
in some measure at the expense of this city. 

" But on the other hand let this place be made the head of sieatn 
navigation on the Hudson, and \/hat will be the effect. The river is 
here a natural basin. The canal boats descend into it, and may be 
made to come over to the wharves very conveniently. They receive 
loading from the stores, or directly from the steam tow boats, which 
may arrive in regular succession every day from New York. Troy 
becomes so annexed to the metropolis that it may be found prefera- 
ble to purchase goods here rather than there, to the extent of the 
capital employed here. The disadvantages of the navigation of the 
river below disappears before the power of steam; and loading will 
here be not only two hours nearer its destination in the country than 
at Albany, but the expense of six miles toll, and delays of the locks 
saved. 

"Finally the essence of good pob'cy is to lead trade by accommo- 
dation, and not force it into artificial channels. 

" It naturally converges to this point and center, from the west 
and east, the north and the south. Make it for the interest of the 
people to come to Troy. 

"The passage across the Mohawk will be attended with some risk 
and delay, and must be unpleasant, perhaps dangerous to passengers. 
The people of the north will not be satisfied till they can come in a 
canal packet into the heart of Troy, as they do now into Utica, and 
as they will come into Albany. 

"To be on an equal footing the Troy canal ought never to be given 
up. The northern canal boats ought to meet the steam boats at 
Troy, or the country will not have a choice of markets. 

"A line of wagons and stages will then be run between Schenec- 
tady and this ferry, to carry and bring passengers, and the more light 
17 



130 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

and valuable loading, in order to avoid the delay of the numerous 
locks near Cohoes. The turnpike road may be thus made excellent 
property. 

"Thus all the usual causes of the prosperity of a place may be 
combined, and Troy, with its natural advantages for mills, manufac- 
tories, mechanic arts, and commerce, must be progressively pros- 
perous."' 

A daily line of stages (Sundays excepted) between Troy and 
Schenectady, began running on Monday, May the fifth, leaving Schen- 
ectady, at 8 o'clock A. M. and Lasell's Tavern in Troy, the same day 
at 4 o'clock p. M. The fare was seventy-five cents each way. The 
owner of the stages, Thomas Powell, of Schenectady, in his adver- 
tisement stated that "As this is an establishment entirely new; it is 
not likely to be very profitable at first, but the proprietor hopes in 
time, with the assistance of his friends, to make it a great accommo- 
dation to the public, and merely asks a remuneration for necessary 
expenses," 

The rocky heights of Mount Olympus, in the northern boundary 
of the city, apparently was considered a place worthy of resort by 
the inhabitants of Troy. In the early summer of this year, W. D. 
Van der Heyden erected on the pinnacle of the prominence, a com- 
modious, octagonal building, and made along the declivitous sides, 
an easy walk to the roadway below. A keeper remained in the build- 
ing night and day during the summer, and was prepared to furnish 
visitors with such cooling cordials and other seasonable beverages 
as might be desired. Pointers were also placed by the proprietor 
to direct the attention of visitors to the different views. The Round 
house remained upon Mount Olympus until it was burned, on the 
night of the thirteenth of February, 1830. 

The following geological description of Mount Olympus appeared 
in one of the newspapers of that time : " The summit of the rock 
is one hundred and twenty feet higher than low water mark, at the 
northern termination of the tide waters of the Hudson, one hundred 
and seventy-eight miles from the ocean, calculating from below the 
Narrows, south of New York City. It consists of a rock of sessile 
argillite, with its layers dipping to the south-east as to form an aver- 
age angle of 65° with the horizon. It is mostly of the glazed slate 
variety. It contains much carburet of iron, iron pyrites and a curi- 

I Troy Post, May 13, 1823. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 131 

ously striated variety of quartz between the natural cleavages: small 
specimens of anthracite have also been found in it." 

The fifth religious organization which was formed in Troy was the 
"First Restorationist Society," more commonly known at this day 
as the First Universalist Church. The first trustees of tliis incor- 
porated body of believers were : Hon. Henry Koon, James Adams, 
Bcla Barber, Samuel Smith and Adam Smith. Rev. Lemuel Willis 
was the first elected minister of the society. On Tuesday, the 
twenty-ninth day of July, 1823, the corner stone of the church was 
laid with appropriate ceremonies, conducted by the pastor elect. 
The church was built on the south side of Ferry street between First 
and Second streets, and was a wooden structure two stories in height, 
with a seating capacity for five hundred persons. 

The Troy Savings Bank was incorporated April 23d, 1823, and 
the following persons were appointed the first managers of the in- 
stitution: John Gary, Derick Lane, Richard P. Hart, Gurdon Corn- 
ing, John Thomas, John Paine, Nathan Warren, Lewis Lyman, Piatt 
Titus, James Van Schoonhoven, Henry Mallory, Leland Howard, 
Joseph Russell, Samuel Gale, Townsend McCoun, William Bradley, 
Alanson Douglas, William Smith and David Buel, Jr. The Board 
of Managers met at Piatt Titus' Tavern, on Friday, Aug. ist, 1823, 
for the purpose of organizing the institution. Townsend McCoun 
was chosen Chairman and John Paine, Secretary, of the meeting. 
The officers elected were Townsend McCoun, President ; Richard 
P. Hart, First Vice President, and Lewis Lyman, Second Vice Presi- 
dent. 

The by-laws of the Troy Savings Bank were adopted on Friday 
evening, August 15th, in which it was stated that the bank Avas to be 
opened every Saturday evening, from six to eight o'clock. Deposits 
of one dollar or any larger sum was to be received. The lowest sum 
which would be allowed interest was five dollars, and no fractional 
part of a dollar was to be received. The Treasurer was on every 
Monday morning to deposit in the Farmers' Bank all moneys in his 
hands to the credit of the Troy Savings Bank. 

An arrangement was made with the Farmers' Bank, by which the 
banking room of that institution was to be used for receiving depos- 
its in the Savings Bank, and for the transaction of its business gen- 
erally. The money deposited in the Savings Bank was to be loaned 
to the Farmers' Bank at the rate of five per cent, per annum, payable 
half yearly. 



132 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

The opening of the bank is thus referred to by a correspondent 
of the Troy Sentinel: "The Troy Savings Bank was opened last 
Saturday evening, (August 30th, 1823,) at the Farmers' Bank, for 
the first time. There were ten deposits made, amounting to $359, 
Among the number of depositors, I noticed four colored women who 
deposited each $20, $25, |;5 1, ^14, and also two minors each ^i. 
On Tuesday, November nth, 1823, ^3,884 were the gross deposits 
made to that date, and it was stated that one female had made a de- 
posit of money every Saturday evening, from the opening of the 
bank in August. 

The completion of the State dam and the sloop lock at the north 
of the city, were thus honored by the citizens of Troy: "Yester- 
day morning, Monday, September ist, 1823, the waters of the Hud- 
son were seen dashing over the dam in beautiful style. In the 
forenoon, the Corporation of the city turned out to greet the arrival 
of the large and beautiful lake boat Gleaner, from St. Albans, Vt., 
and the canal boat of our citizen, Mr. Whipple, from Whitehall. 
These are the two first vessels that have passed through the sloop 
lock just above us, which completes the connection of the northern 
canal with the river Hudson, and our citizens were anxious to testify 
their gratification at the long-wished for opening of this navigation. 
Accordingly, at half-past ten o'clock a. m. a procession, composed 
of the Corporation and a large concourse of citizens, escorted by 
the uniform companies of Troy, was formed under the command of 
Captain Pitcher, and marched to the upper end of River street, op- 
posite the place where the two boats were lying The Gleaner and 
another large boat were grappled together, and the Corporation, 
with the Light Infantry went on board. The decks of the boats fur- 
nished convenient room for the military to form, and as they floated 
past the city with colors flying and music playing, they returned 
with their musketry the salutes, which were fired by the artillery, 
posted at different stations along the shore. Thus honor due was 
paid to this interesting occasion."* 

The length of the dam was eleven hundred feet, and height nine 
feet. The inside length of the sloop lock was one hundred and 
fourteen feet, the width thirty feet, height twenty-five feet, and the 
lift nine feet. The cost of the dam was ^92,270. 

The opening of the Erie canal on Wednesday, the 8th of October, 
1823, was celebrated by the people of Troy in the following practi- 

- T'he Troy Sentinel, September 2, 1823. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 133 

cal manner: "When the procession of boats from the junction of 
the western and northern canals, had passed on to Albany, accord- 
ing to the order of arrangements previously made, the Trojan 
Trader, a western freight boat, came down to the bridge near the 
Gibbonsville (West Troy) basin, opposite this city, and took on board 
the first load of merchandise sent from the Hudson west on the Erie 
canal. The goods had been purchased several days and were only 
waiting for the navigation to be opened. As the occasion was new 
and interesting to us here, our merchants took some little pains to 
manifest their gratification. As the side cut into the river opposite 
to Troy was not yet done, and as the junction canal, though com- 
pleted and filled with water, could not yet be opened so as to per- 
mit the Trojan Trader to come around by Waterford down the 
Hudson to be loaded at the wharf, it became necessary to transport 
the goods on wheels across the river to the place of embarkation on 
the main trunk of the canal. Accordingly in the morning, this ne- 
cessity being intimated to the carmen of Troy, with an alacrity highly 
honorable to their public spirit, they volunteered their services with 
one accord, to take the goods over. After loading their teams they 
proceeded in two divisions to the two ferries, and being, through the 
liberality of Mr. Vanderheyden, the proprietor of the two ferries, 
taken across in his horse boats, toll free, they had the goods all 
on the bank of the canal by twelve o'clock. Several of our citizens 
lent their assistance to load the boat, and at two o'clock, the Trader, 
having on board upwards of twenty-five tons of merchandise, with 
her flag flying, and amid the cheers of assembled Trojans, started 
for the west. The Trojan Trader is commanded by Captain Brace, 
she is bound for Rochester, and on her flag are painted the follow- 
ing words: 'From Trov; the first Western boat loaded at 
Hudson's river.' 

" There were between eight and ten tons of merchandise which 
the Trader could not take ; these were put on board The Troy, an- 
other western boat, owned at Auburn. 

The following are the names of the merchants who purchased 
the above mentioned merchandise, together with their places of 
abode : Jesse Doolittle, Ithaca, Tompkins Co. ; C. Kellogg & Co., 
Kelloggsville, Cayuga Co. ; D. O. Kellogg &: Co., Owasco, Cayuga 
Co. ; Charles Kellogg, Sempronius, Cayuga Co. ; Elisha Wells, Utica, 
Oneida Co. , J. (^ E. Congdon, Rochester, Monroe Co. ; W. & E. L. 
Haskins Seneca Falls, Seneca Co. ; David Batty, Hamburgh, Erie 



134 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Co. ; Gideon Ramsdall, Farmington, Ontario Co. ; Hiram Pierce, 
Hammond, St. Lawrence Co. ; A. Rowley & Co,, Governeur, St. 
Lawrence Co. ; John Loop, Edwards, St Lawrence Co. The three 
last mentioned houses take their goods on the canal to Rochester, 
and thence down Lake Ontario. 

" The above list, though containing but a small portion of the 
customers of this city at the west, will serve to convey some idea of 
the trade with Troy established in that quarter of the State, before 
the construction of the canal ; and now that noble highway is open- 
ed, leading by our doors, from the great western interior, may not 
our merchants reasonably expect to extend their business connec- 
tions in that region ? 

" Thus, while the pomp was at Albany — while exulting multitudes 
crowded her streets and squares, and that ancient city was honored 
by a numerous train of ardent promoters of the best interests of the 
country, convened to mingle congratulations with her own public 
spirited and enlightened citizens, upon one of the most momentous 
occasions in the annals of time, — Troy also was not without her 
gratification; she too received a portion of the abundant blessing, 
and was thankful."' 

The side-cut opposite to Troy Avas completed on Saturday, Nov. 
15th. In the afternoon the locks were in readiness, the water was 
let in, and the packet-boat Superior, with a party of Trojans on 
board, passed through and crossed over to the city. Two freight- 
boats also, which had been waiting a few days for the cut to be 
opened, came through, one laden with staves and the other with 
wheat, and crossed over to unload their cargoes at the wharves of 
Troy. 

This bold undertaking of the people of Troy in despatching the 
first boat westward in the Erie Canal, and not participating in the 
general celebration at Albany, was sharply criticised by the press of 
Lansingburgh and Albany. However, the more liberal opinion of 
the National Democrat was thus expressed by its editor ; 

"The enterprise of the Trojans is worthy of all imitation. Wc 
believe that without exception they are the most enterprising people 
in the United States. There is among them a noble spirit of rival- 
ship, untinctured by jealousy of each other. No man appears to 
envy, but every man to emulate the genius, talent and industry of 
his neighbor. They are determined, if they do fall in the scales of 

I The Troy Sentinel, October 10, 1823. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 135 

commercial, manufjcturing and mechanical competition, that they 
will fall honorably in a firm and persevering struggle for pre-emi- 
nence. May they never fall, but may they continue to rise ; and 
may all their sister cities jjursue the same generous career, and rise 
by the same honorable and noble spirit of ambition." 

Apollo Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, wliich had 
for a number of years a lodge room in the tavern of Z. 
Curtis, where now the American House is situated, on the 
seventh day of February, 1824, dedicated a new assembly -room in 
the Troy House. The Troy Sentinel of February loth, thus refers 
to the ceremonies : 

" The beautiful new Hall erected in the Troy House by the mem- 
bers of the Apollo Lodge and the Apollo Chapter, was dedicated 
on Saturday evening, by the name of St. John's Hall, by the M. W. 
Joseph Enos, G. M. ; R. W. John Brush, D. G. M., and the officers 
of the R. W. Grand Lodge. The ceremony of dedication was per- 
formed in a very impressive manner. A prayer and exhortation 
were made by the M. W. Rev. brother Lacy, which added greatly 
to the solemnity of the service. The assemblage of members of 
the fraternity was numerous, and after the ceremonies were conclud- 
ed, they partook of an elegant supper prepared by Mr. Titus." 

Early in the summer of 1824, the Troy & Boston Stage Line was 
established by John Barney and Arthur Milliken, of Troy , Josiah 
Richmond, of Hoosick; Sylvester and Ware, of Williamstown; 
Samuel Bowen, of Adams; Chester Mitchell and David Stowell, Jr., 
of Cummington; D. W. Graves, of Goshen, and Joshua Curtis, of 
Northampton. The route was via Lansingburgh, Pittstown, Hoosick 
Four Corners, Williamstown, Adams, Cummington to Northampton, 
and there to connect with the line by Amherst College and Barre, to 
Boston. The stage left Troy every Tuesday, Thursday and Satur- 
day, at nine o'clock, and the fare to Northampton from Troy was 
four dollars, and to Boston, seven dollars and fifty cents. "The ad- 
vantages to travellers, through this route, particularly those going 
from the eastward to the westward, or to the Springs, will be manifest 
by simply stating that a stage leaves Troy for Schenectady at three 
o'clock p. M. on the same days that the stages of the above line ar- 
rive at Troy from Williamstown, and that the regular line of packet 
boats on the Erie canal runs directly from Schenectady to Lockport, 
within thirty miles of Buffalo. A regular line of stages also runs 
every day from Schenectady to Buffalo, through Utica. There will 



136 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

also be a daily communication, by extra stages, from Troy to Balls- 
ton and Saratoga Springs, during the summer season." 

This line of stages had its office at the Bull's Head Tavern, 
kept by Elias Lasell, corner of River and Second streets. 

The first town clock put up in Troy was one placed in the tower 
of the old Baptist church steeple on Third street, in 1824. It had 
three dials, one facing the west, and the others north and south. It 
was built by Stephen Hasham, of Charlestown, New Hampshire. 
The city agreed to pay for the clock if the Trustees of the Baptist 
Society w^ould let it remain in the tower of the church and have it 
wound up free of any expense to the city. The clock cost five hun- 
dred and fifty dollars, for which the city made appropriations. 

The newspapers this year advocated the lighting of the streets with 
lamps, and suggested the need of door numbers and the placing of 
boards with the names of intersecting streets lettered upon them, at 
the different corners in the city. 

The most memorable event in the history of the Troy was the visit 
of General La Fayette to the city, in the autumn of 1824. 

"At a meeting of the Common Council, August loth, 1824, it was 
resolved, that the Mayor, Hon. Esaias Warren, be requested to ten- 
der General La Fayette, the congratulations of the inhabitants of 
Troy, upon his arrival in this country, once so successfully defended 
by his sword, and request him, by a visit to this city, to afford them 
an opportunity of giving him personal assurance of their high esti- 
mation of his public and private virtues." 

The following committee of arrangements was designated by the 
Common Council, for the reception of General La Fayette : Albert 
Pawling, Derick Lane, Ephraim Morgan, Benjamin Smith, Stephen 
Warren, Gurdon Corning, James Mallory, George Tibbits, John D. 
Dickinson, Joseph Russell and John P. Cushman. 

The grand reception given La Fayette on Saturday, the eighteenth 
day of September, 1824, is thus described in the columns of The 
Troy Sentinel of September 21st: 

"Reception of La Fayette in Troy. — On Saturday last, Troy 
had the happiness to receive La Fayette. The day was uncommonly 
serene, and the ceremonies were appropriate and interesting. In- 
deed, considering the uncertainty that existed until Friday, concern- 
ing the time of the General's arrival and stay among us, the 
committee are entitled to very emphatic praise fo' the ample charac- 



. HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 137 

ter and good taste of their arrangements; and we are sure our 
citizens universally accord with us in this opinion. 

"The General accompanied by his suite, the Governor of the State 
of New York and his suite, and the Mayor and Corporation of the 
city of Albany, came up from Albany on the canal, in the packet- 
boat Schenectady. He was expected as early as ten o'clock, but it 
had been found impossible by the Albany committee, with their most 
active exertions to expedite his departure from their city sufficiently 
early for that purpose At half-past one, however, the cannon at 
the U. S. Arsenal in Gibbonsville, announced his approach, in a na- 
tional salute, and at two o'clock, he reached the side-cut. There 
he was met by a deputation from the Troy Committee of Arrange- 
ments, and the packet-boat Schenectady, with all on board, was 
taken down through the locks into the river. Near the mouth of the 
side-cut, eight boats were waiting to tow the Schenectady across to 
the city. This part of the spectacle was strikingly beautiful. The 
boats were each fitted with a mast on which was hoisted the national 
flag; each was furnished with four strong oarsmen, and in the stern 
of each, to guide the movement, sat the master of the sloop to which 
the boat belonged. The names of the sloop masters who manifested 
their public spirit on the occasion, (and we believe they included all 
belonging to the city who were not absent,) were Captains Fraser, 
Hawkins, Smalley, Coffin, Dale, Burdick, Rowland and Comstock. 
We would give the names of the rowers if we had been able to pro- 
cure them; for the alacrity with which they rendered their services 
and the manner in which they executed their task, was worthy of all 
praise. The boats being arranged in line, and connected by haw- 
sers, took the Schenectady in tow, and pulling out into the river far 
enough to clear the point of the shoal that stretches along the south 
side of the channel leading from the lock, they turned with a grace- 
ful sweep down the river, and gave to view the beautiful line in its 
whole length. Upon arriving opposite to the upper ferry, they again 
turned, and stood right across to the city. A fine band of music 
from Albany was stationed on the Schenectady, and the oars were 
pulled to martial and patriotic airs There was perfect silence in 
the boats, their course being directed by signal from the sloop-mas- 
ter in the hindmost; and as the striped and starred banner floated 
out upon the fresh breeze, and the tough oars bent to the sinewy 
arms that swept them in even cadence, the spectacle was strikingly 
beautiful. After the General, with his retinue, had passed the U. 
18 



138 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

S Arsenal, on his way to the side-cut, five beautiful uniform com- 
panies from Albany, who had escorted him from that city, crossing 
at the ferry, united with the military of Troy, and the whole were 
paraded in Ferry street, to wait his landing When he landed, he 
was received by the Committee of Arrangements, and the Hon. 
George Tibbits, in the name of the committee, and in behalf of the 
citizens, made him the following appropriate address: 

"General La Fayette — The citizens of Troy, by their commit- 
tee, bid you a most cordial welcome. Your unremitted devotion to 
the cause of civil and religious freedom, has rendered your name 
illustrious wherever liberty and the rights of man are respected. 
The emancipation of this country from a state of colonial dependence, 
was an effort worthy of the patriots by whose counsels and arms it 
was effected, and among them your name stands conspicuous. The 
labors, the privations, the sacrifices of those worthies, and more 
especially your own disinterested efforts, are remembered by the peo- 
ple of these States with a deep sense of gratitude, increasing as the 
precepts and measures of the patriots of the revolution have been 
tested, and their principles practically developed in the progressive 
and unexampled prosperity of the country. 

"Long, very long, may your health and life be continued to wit- 
ness the fruits'of the labors in which you so largely participated. 
You will behold these fruits in the forms of our governments, insur- 
ing freedom with order; in our systems of jurisprudence, securing 
public peace with private rights, in our seminaries of learning, where 
to every individual, rich or poor, the benefits of education are ex- 
tended, in our different but harmonious modes of divine worship; 
in the conversion of an immense wilderness into fruitful fields; in 
the rise, increase and accumulated number of our cities, towns and 
villages; in the establishment of manufactories; in the internal and 
external commerce of the country; in fine, you will behold the re- 
sults of the labors and principles of the patriots of the revolution, 
identified with the institutions of an enterprising, industrious and re- 
ligious people, contented with their lot, submissive to the laws, at 
peace at home and with all the world; and ascribing their numerous 
blessings primarily, under Providence, to the patriot heroes with 
whom you acted so distinguished a part, and with whose services 
your own will be held in unfailing remembrance. 

"Be assured, sir, that after a lapse of more than forty years, your 
devoted efforts in our struggle for independence, applied at times 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



139 



most critical, in manner most efficient, have not l)een forgotten, and 
that the citizens of Troy unanimously greet you with their most cor- 
dial welcome, 

"To this address General La Fayette replied in substance as fol- 
lows: That he very highly appreciated the friendly sentiments ex- 
pressed towards him by the people of Troy. That it ga\e him the 
most sincere gratification to find the country in the harmonious, 
peaceful, happy and flourishing condition, in which he fi)und it, that 
improvements had been made every where to an extent far exceed- 
ing his expectation. The contrast in that respect between the pres- 
ent time and forty years past, when he left the country, was 
astonishingly great, and in no place greater than at Troy, where 
when he last saw it, there was but one small house, but where he now 
saw a beautiful city, and a numerous and flourishing population. 

"At this point the procession formed in the following order: Mar- 
shal and Assistants; Military Escort, Citizens, four abreast, Military 
officers in uniform, four abreast. Masonic Brethren; Clergy; Com- 
m.ittee of Arrangements; General La Fayette's Carriage, Carriages 
containing his Suite. 

"A train of other carriages followed, and the procession moved 
up Ferry street, then up First street, then up Congress street, then 
up Second street, then up Albany street, then up Third street, then 
down River street to the Troy House. 

"The General, accompanied by Colonel Lane, of this city, who 
was of the Jersey line during the revolutionary war, rode in a superb 
barouche, drawn by a pair of beautiful brown horses. The Gener- 
al's suite occupied the two next carriages, and among them were his 
son, George Washington La Fayette, M. Vasseur, his Secretary, and 
Colonel Huger, the chivalrous friend who aided in the attempt to 
rescue him from the dungeons of Olmutz. As he passed through 
the streets, they were filled with admiring and grateful throngs, press- 
ing along to catch another and another look at the illustrious visitor, 
their country's benefactor. The front of every house was filled with 
suectators, in all its stories, and 

" You would have thought the very windows spake, 
So many greedy looks of young and old, 
Through casements darted their desiring eyes 

Upon his visage. 

"When the head of the procession arrived at the Troy House, it 
halted, and the General moved forward between the ojjcned ranks 



140 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

of the military, to the front of the building, where he alighted and 
was conducted into the front parlor, which was tastefully decorated 
for the occasion. Here he was addressed by the Recorder in the 
following manner, in the name of the Corporation, the Mayor being 
out of town : 

"General La Fayette — In behalf of the inhabitants of Troy, I 
greet your happy arrival, I bid you welcome to this land of your 
adoption — to the scenes of your early glory. The universal enthusi- 
asm with which you have been received by all classes of our citizens, 
has already convinced you, that the people of America cherish the 
most lively gratitude for you, their National Benefactor. The im- 
portant services which you have rendered our country have been 
without precedent and will remain without parallel. In the most 
gloomy period of our Revolution — in times of the greatest peril and 
danger — when all but the stoutest hearts were appalled by the pros- 
pect before them, you came among us a volunteer, from a foreign 
land. Your presence inspired our councils with new hopes, and our 
armies with fresh courage. Though destitute of almost all the means 
of defense, you found abundant resources in the unconquerable reso- 
lution of our people. Your congenial spirit associated you with the 
heroes of our country — with them you fought, and with them you 
conquered. 

" You now find us a nation arrived at vigorous manhood — con- 
scious of our strength, and animated by the same principles of free- 
dom — bidding defiance to embattled nations, and ready to render 
that aid to others, which we then so much needed ourselves. 

"The Tree of Liberty which you assisted in planting has taken 
deep root, and has shot forth vigorous branches. The enemies of 
free government behold its fair fruit, and sicken at the sight ; with 
instinctive horror they dread the 'contagion' of this bright 'example.' 

"But how gratifying to your benevolent mind is the reflection that 
you have not lived in vain; that you have eminently contributed to 
that happiness and prosperity, which you every where witness in our 
country. The city which w^e inhabit, may justly claim you as a 
founder. It has not been built upon the ruin of others, to gratify 
the capricious vanity of a proud monarch, who more often places 
his glory in the demolition of cities and the destruction of men. It 
has risen and flourished with the prosperity of our country ; it is the 
genuine offspring of that freedom, which you fought and bled to 
establish. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 141 

"Americans consider you as part of themselves. The old men 
greet you as a brother; the young men respect you as a father The 
fame and the glory of La Fayette we regard as the fame and the glory 
of America. We are happy that the reputation of our country has 
been maintained, and that the integrity of our country's friend has 
never been sullied; that under every vicissitude, you have been true 
to the principles of freedom; that under every form of ojipression 
you have been 

" The foe of tyrants and the fnend of man," 

"Hoping for the more general diffusion of the principles of liberty, 
and wishing you personally all possible felicity, permit me once more 
to bid you welcome to this land of happiness and freedom. 

"To this very neat address, the General replied in substance as 
follows : 

"I am sensibly affected by the honors conferred upon me by the 
American people. The kindness with which they have received my 
conduct, has magnified my merit. America may justly be proud of 
her Revolutionary heroes and sages, it is my greatest glory to have 
been associated with them in their dangers. I join with you in the 
hope that the blessings of freedom will be more generally diffused, 
and that the bright example of America will not be lost to the na- 
tions of the earth. *This city is a happy illustration of the blessings 
of liberty secured to you by your excellent constitution. When I 
was formerly in this country, there was but one house on the spot 
where now stands this splendid city. 

"After a few moments passed in this room, the General was con- 
ducted up stairs and out upon an open balcony on a level with the 
second floor, where he had full view of the crowd, and at the same 
time gave the eager multitudes a favorable opportunity to see him — 
to trace his lineaments, and feast their eyes on his beaming and be- 
nignant face. 

"This balcony was very tastefully fitted out. It was of a strong 
frame work, up the front and at the corners of which, rose four young 
pines with their branches woven across, and sustaining an arch, on 
which was inscribed this motto : 

"Welcome La Fayette: The Friend of Washington, The Friend 
of America, The Friend of Liberty 

"On a perch, stationed directly over the crown of the arch, stood 
a living eagle, in the strength of his beak and the pride of his eye. 
His restless action, as he was excited by the crowd, was strikingly 



142 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

majestic; and ever and anon, as he was startled by the shifting scene, 
he would open his strong pinions as if for flight. The General was 
particularly pleased with his appearance, and the happy thought of 
placing him there, and expressed his gratification in very warm terms, 

"After remaining a short time on the balcony, a deputation from 
the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in this city, who have a splendid 
hall in the upper story of the Troy House, waited on him with an 
invitation to honor them with his presence. He accepted the invi- 
tation, and having been admitted, his Honor Judge Buel, one of the 
Companions, addressed him. As the address was extemporaneous, 
the author has kindly furnished the following as the substance of 
what was said ; 

"Illustrious Companion — In behalf of the Chapter of Ancient 
Royal Arch Masons, I hail you as a welcome guest Having from 
our days of childhood learned to associate the name of La Fayette 
with that of Washington and the Independence of our country, we 
delight to mingle in those expressions of gratitude and joy which 
have burst forth from the hearts of ten millions of freemen upon 
your arrival in the land of your adoption, — and we feel much hon- 
ored that you afford us this opportunity of saluting you as a Com- 
panion and Brother, in this place consecrated to benevolence and 
the social virtues Long may you live to enjoy the gratitude of a 
nation indebted for its independence and prosperity to your patri- 
otic exertions — and to assert, as you always have done, the princi- 
ples of liberty without fear and without reproach. And when you 
shall have finished the work allotted to you on earth by the Great 
Architect of the universe, may you be received as a Companion in 
that celestial Arch to which all worthy Masons hope to be exalted. 

" General La Fayette, in reply, remarked that it was a very agree- 
able circumstance of his visit to have received the higher degrees 
of Masonry in America. That he had always respected the institu- 
tion and felt much gratified by this interview with his brethren. 

"After coming from the ceremonies of the Chapter, he sat down, 
with a numerous company, to a superb cold collation The table 
was excellently spread, and Mr. Titus exhibited his usual good taste 
and judgment in the selection and arrangement of the dishes. As 
soon as the company had partaken of the collation, the General 
proceeded to the Troy Female Seminary, where the ladies of Troy 
had assembled to greet him, and pay him their portion of the com- 
mon gratitude. The enterprise of the ladies had procured the 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 14 



frame work of an arbor to be constructed, reaching from the street 
across the small park to the front of the Seminary building, and 
with their own hands they had covered it with evergreens and deck- 
ed it with llowers. On an arch at tlie entrance was the motto: 
"America Commands Her Daughters to Welcome Her Deliverer, 
La Fayette." The ladies were drawn up in ranks on each side of 
the arbor, and as the General entered it, he was met by a commit- 
tee of nine ladies, with Mrs. Albert Pawling at their head. The 
General was introduced to the committee by Col. Lane, and was 
then addressed in the following very neat and appropriate manner 
by Mrs. Pawling : 

"Respected and Dear Sir — The Ladies of Troy rejoice in the 
opportunity of meeting the illustrious friend and early benefactor 
of their much loved country, and through me, tender to you, sir, 
their most affectionate respects and cordial welcome to this now 
peaceful and happy land. The Ladies are also proud in being able 
to present, in the pupils of the adjoining Seminary, a living testi- 
mony of the blessings conferred by that independence which you, 
sir, so essentially contributed to establish, and in which our sex en- 
joy a prominent share. Permit me, sir, the pleasure of introducing 
you to the Principal and Assistant Teachers of the Troy Female 
Seminary, an institution which we consider an honor to our city and 
and country. 

" In reply, the General expressed his happiness at such a cordial 
reception from the ladies of Troy* and was then conducted up the 
arbor to the front of the edifice, on the steps of which the principal 
of the Seminary, Mrs. Emma Willard, was waiting to receive him. 
The steps ascend from each side, and on their front was an arch, 
surrounded by evergreens and flowers, bearing this well-adapted in- 
scription : "We Owe Our Schools to Freedom; Freedom to La 
Fayette." He was handed up the steps and introduced to Mrs. 
Willard by Mrs. Pawling. On the landing place he found himself 
under a canopy of evergreens and flowers, from the centre of which, 
and directly over his head, depended a beautiful wreath. Here the 
principal of the Seminary was standing, at the entrance of the hall, 
and within it her beautiful school was arrayed, with their instructress 
of music, prepared to perform the following fine lines, written for 
the occasion by Mrs. Willard herself When the General had been 
introduced, they were sung 



144 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

"And art thou, then, dear Hero come, 

And do our eyes behold the man, 
Who nerved his arm and bared his b"east 

For us, ere yet our life began ; 
For us and for our native land. 

Thy youthful valor dared the war 
And now, in winter of thine age, 

Thou 'st come and left thy loved ones far. 

CHORUS. 

Then deep and dear thy welcome be ; 
Nor think thy daughters far from thee ; 
Columbia's daughters, lo ! we bend, 
And claim to call thee Father, Friend. 

But was 't our country's rights alone 

Impelled Fayette to Freedom's van? 
No, 'twas the love of human kind. 

It was the sacred cause of man — 
It was benevolence sublime, 

Like that which sways the Eternal mind 1 
And, benefactor of the world. 

He shed his blood for all mankind. 

CHORUS. 

Then deep and dear thy welcome be ; 
Nor think thy daughters far from thee ; 
Daughters of human-kind we bend. 
And claim to call thee Father, Friend. 

" The instructress of music, Miss Smith, whose voice is one of al- 
most unmatched sweetness and richness of tone, and who plays and 
sings with great expression, performed the air, accompanying her 
voice on the piano ; and the whole school joined in the chorus. 
At the close of the music, two pupils, one of them the daughter of 
his excellency Governor Cass, of Michigan, stepped forward, as the 
representatives of the youth of their own sex throughout the 
country, and presented him, one a copy of Mrs. Willard's " Plan of 
Female Education," and the other a copy of the lines just sung, 
beautifully printed on a sheet of embossed paper, bordered with 
blue. The General was then handed from the steps and down the 
arbor, by the Principal of the Seminary, followed by the lady com- 
mittee. At the entrance of the arbor next the street, the barouche 
was in waiting, into which he was handed by Ccl. Lane, when the 
escort took him again, and conducted him down to the ferry, on his 
return to Albany On his way to the ferry, the citizens, in their 
anxiety to speak to him and hear him speak, as well as to see him. 




A- -{X 



Fold-out Placeholder 



This fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserte 
at a future date. 





iV -^ 



Fold-out Placeholder 



t 



This fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserted 
at a future date. 



IIISTORV OF THE CITY OF TROY. 1 45 

thronged around and hung upon his carriage in such clusters that it 
Avas difficult to pass along ; and indeed, the press and his own good- 
ness of disposition, often stopped him to shake hands with the eager 
population. 

" On one of these occasions, just at the brow of the hill in Ferry 
street, near Babcock's, a very interesting incident occurred. A very 
decent, respectable looking mechanic, whose name we are unable to 
state, pressed up to the carriage, bearing in his arms above the heads 
of the crowd his little boy, a child about three years old, wliich he 
presented to La Fayette, and begged his blessing, saying that he 
himself was the son of a man who had served under the General 
two campaigns during the war of the Revolution. The blessing was 
of course granted, and was accompanied with the expression of much 
gratification at finding so respectable a citizen in the son of one of 
his old fellow-soldiers. When he embarked on board the ferry boat, 
to re-cross the river, his departure was cheered by the presence and 
the shout of the whole multitude, and by the presence of a long 
array of our fair countrywomen, waving their hands and handker- 
chiefs. 

" The General saw several individuals who had served with him 
in the Revolution, and some who had shared with him the dangers 
and the glory of the same field. Col. Lane, for instance, had been 
with him in the battles of Monmouth, Brandywine, and Yorktown. 

"But although the whole scene was interesting, yet no part of it 
was in our view so peculiarly striking and significant, as the recep- 
tion at the Female Seminary ; and we understand that La Fayette 
himself observed that nothing had affected him more since his arri- 
val in the country, than the verses and the manner of their per- 
formance. The reference in the chorus to his own daughters, left 
behind him in a distant country, and the affectionate urging of their 
own claim to call him 'father, friend,' were deeply pathetic, and as 
the maiden pupils, in the flower of their youth, and the ardent sin- 
cerity of their sex, bent together in confirmation of their vow of 
filial reverence, tears filled their eyes as well as his, and bore witness 
to the power of the scene. Before leaving his position, he requested 
several copies of the lines to send home to his daughters. It was 
only till two days before the arrival of the nation's guest in Troy, 
that the ladies adopted the design, which they so happily executed. 
There was such a speaking propriety — such a beautiful fitness, in it, 
that there is no one who feels a just pride in the reputation of his 
19 



1^6 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 

own city, or entertains any adequate conceptions of the nature of 
the occasion, but must congratulate himself and his neighbors at the 
result. 

"Though our free institutions have been fruitful of blessings to 
all — to both sexes and to every condition — yet there is no portion 
of society that owes them and their founders such emphatic grati- 
tude as woman in her collective capacity; for the principles of a 
rational, tempered and honorable equality, on which those institu- 
tions are based, have, in their practical operation, done more to pro- 
mote her true interest and augment her real dignity, than human 
institutions had ever done before. There was, moreover, no place 
where the women of this rising city could assemble so conveniently, 
or with so much feminine propriety, to pay their respects and show 
their grateful sense of the merits of a national benefactor, as under 
the very walls of an institution reared for the especial benefit of 
their sex, which stands a noble monument of the intellectual power 
and force of character of her who, in spite of so many obstacles, 
has raised it to its present respectable condition, and which will be 
the pride or shame of Troy, just in proportion as it is fostered or 
neglected. The General, we understand, left Albany on Saturday 
night about eleven o'clock, and proceeded in the James Kent down 
the Hudson to Mrs. Montgomery's, where he was to dine on Sun- 
day." 



CHAPTER VII. 

From the Establishment of the Rensselaer School to the Great Land- 
slide. 1824 to 1837. 

The establishment of the Rensselaer School (Rensselaer Poly- 
technic Institute), on the fifth day of November, 1824, by Stephen 
Van Rensselaer, was due to the exertions of Professor Amos Eaton. 
Appreciating the innumerable benefits to be derived from a 
proper course of instruction in the natural and exact sci- 
ences, he entered into the project with an enthusiasm which soon 
attracted the attention of the citizens of Troy to the importance of 
such a college of learning and the generous endowment of its dis- 
tinguished founder. Rev. Samuel Blatchford was chosen its first 
President ; Orville L. Plolley, First Vice President ; T. Romeyn 
Beck, Second Vice President ; Dr. Moses Hale, Secretary ; and 
Hanford N. Lockwood, Treasurer. The Board of Trustees com- 
prised the following persons : Rev. Samuel Blatchford, Elias Parme- 
lee, John Cramer, Guert Van Schoonhoven, Simeon De Witt, T. 
Romeyn Beck, John D. Dickinson and Jedediah Tracy. 

The purposes of the School, and the course of study to be pur- 
sued, were set forth in an article contributed by the President to the 
columns of the Troy Sentinel, Dec. 28, 1824 : 

" The Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer having established a school 
near the northern limits of Troy, for teaching the physical sciences, 
with their application to the arts of life ; having appointed profes- 
sors A. Eaton and L. C. Beck to give courses of instruction partic- 
ularly calculated to prepare operative chemists and practical natur- 
alists, properly qualified to act as teachers in villages and school 
districts ; having appointed an agent and furnished him with funds 
for procuring apparatus and fitting up a laboratory, library room, 
&c., <!s:c. ; and the agent having given notice to the president of the 
institution that the requisite collections and preparations are com- 
pleted, it seems proper to give public notice of these circumstances. 
Accordingly the public is respectfully notified that everything is in 
readiness at the Rensselaer School for giving instructions in Chem- 
istry, Experimental Philosophy and Natural History, with their ap- 



148 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

plication to agriculture, domestic economy, and the arts; and also 
for teaching Land Surveying, and all the branches of learning set 
forth in the circular which was issued in November last, subscribed 
by the founder, and by the President and Secretary of the Board of 
Trustees. 

"The first term will commence, according to the appointment of 
the founder, on the first Monday in January, 1825, and continue 
fifteen weeks , but because the delay in preparation has very much 
shortened the time for giving proper notice, the course of instruc- 
tion will be re-commenced in the latter part of January, and all pre- 
vious exercises repeated, at stated hours, for the benefit of those 
who may not have been able to enter the school at the beginning of 
the term. 

"An evening course of lectures by the Senior Professor, on chem- 
istry and experimental philosophy, will commence on the third Wed- 
nesday in January, and continue, three lectures in a week, for ten 
weeks. 

" During the day no lectures will be given by the professors, but, 
under their superintendence, the students, divided into sections, 
will perform all the experiments and give the explanations — the stu- 
dents thus acting as lecturers and the professors as auditors. The 
examination at the end of each term, for certificates or diplomas, 
will be conducted on the same plan. 

" The fees for the day course of instruction will be $25 a term ; 
for the evening course, ^5 ; but the regularly matriculated students 
of the institution can attend the evening course without any addi- 
tional expense. 

" Samuel Blatchford, Prcs't Trustees. 

"Rensselaer School, Troy, Dec. 28, 1824. 

" N. B. — Students who wish for extra accommodations will pay 
from $1.75 to $2 a week for board and lodging. But any number 
of students can have good plain board and lodging near the school 
for $1.50 a week. 

" For the fees a credit of one year will be allowed to any student 
who shall bring a letter from some responsible person, addressed to 
the Treasurer, Mr. H. N. Lockwood, and containing an assurance 
that they shall be paid at the end of the year. Messrs. Fassett & 
Selden, Druggists, Troy, will also furnish, for $50 each, portable 
suits of apparatus with chemical substances for two courses of lec- 
tures, for which they will give a years' credit on good security. 



i 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 149 

These credits will afford the student time to raise money by teach- 
ing, to pay for his apparatus and for a valuable course of instruc- 
tion. 

" As this school is founded solely for ])urposes of public utility, 
it is hoped that editors of newspapers will give this article an inser- 
tion." 

The religious education of the students was thus provided for in 
the rules regarding Sunday : 

" When the weather is fair, and the state of the roads will permit, 
it will be the duty of every student to attend divine service at some 
of the Societies in Troy or Lansingburgh. The distance to either 
of the six places of public worship in Troy is about one mile and a 
quarter, and to those at Lansingburgh about one mile and three- 
quarters. When the weather is too unfavorable for attendance at 
church, sermons or religious lectures will be read in the lecture 
room at the school, forenoon and afternoon, a professor being pres- 
ent, by the students in turn, and such other religious exercises will 
be attended to as may be ordered from time to time by the Presi- 
dent." 

The building used for the purposes of the school, was the old 
Farmers' Bank building still standing on the north-west corner of 
Middleburgh and River streets. 

The trade of Troy was greatly benefited by the opening of the 
canals. An exhibit of several entries found in the Collector's 
office at West Troy, showed that during the months of October and 
November, 1824, seven hundred and twelve boats had arrived and 
departed from Troy. During the same period, 3,000 tons of mer- 
chandise were carried away by boats that took their entire loading 
at Troy, besides a large quantity taken by boats that were partly 
loaded at Albany. In this statement of the amount of merchandise, 
a very large amount of valuable articles in trade, such as provisions, 
salt, castings, and all articles of domestic manufacture, are not in- 
cluded. The precise quantity of these articles is not ascertained, 
but may be safely estimated at about 2,000 tons, making the whole 
quantity of goods, wares and merchandise taken from Troy, in two 
months, at least 5,000 tons." 

The amount of articles exported from Troy by the canals, from 
May 4 to December 14, 1824, inclusive, was, of merchandise 9,836 
tons: unenumerated articles, 1,016 tons; stone and brick, 376 tons; 
lumber, 30,023 feet, and lath, t,^ m. 



150 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Troy in 1824 had nine hundred and ninety-one buildings within 
the corporate limits. Pavements were being made along all the 
streets, but street lamps were not yet introduced. The cabinet of 
the Lyceum of Natural History contained about two thousand 
specimens of minerals. There were in the city, one semi-weekly 
and two weekly newspapers, four printing offices and five book 
stores. Between Albany and Troy there were four lines of daily 
stages, each making two trips a day. 

A steamboat line between Troy and New York was established in 
the spring of 1825. It is thus referred to in the Troy 

^^' Sentinel of March 15th : 

" The new and superb steam-boat, Chief Justice Marshall, com- 
manded by Captain R. W. Sherman, arrived here on Saturday last 
(March 12th) from New York. This boat was built for the express 
purpose, by the Troy Steam-Boat Company, and is to ply between 
New York and this city. By reference to an advertisement in our 
paper to-day, it will be seen she is to commence immediately on her 
course and to run through the season; and, as soon as arrangements 
can be made, in connection with the steamboats Constitution and 
Constellation. The model of this boat is a fine specimen of naval 
architecture, happily combining the desirable objects of buoyancy 
and stability, and the workmanship is in a style of excellence rarely 
equalled. Her accommodations are spacious, airy and neat ; and 
among the various improvements is a large reading room on the 
upper deck, where the principal newspapers in the Union will be 
filed. Below is a very convenient 'washing-room,' where water is 
let in from the river, and bells placed leading to the barbers' and 
waiters' apartments. The strong net-work around the upper and 
lower decks is another improvement, happily suggested for the safety 
of the passenger. The Chief Justice Marshall is a superb vessel ; 
her movements are powerful and rapid, and the style and variety of 
her accommodations are such as will do credit to the projectors of 
the work. At half-past-two o'clock (Monday, March 14th) she left 
here on her first trip, with a respectable number of passengers." 

The Chief Justice Marshall had a large fly-wheel to equalize the 
movements of her machinery. The speed of the new boat is spoken 
of in terms of congratulation by the Sentinel of April 26, 1S25 : 

" On Saturday last, the new steamboat, the Chief Justice Mar- 
shall, left the wharf in New York at six o'clock, p. M., and though 
delayed on her way up the river, by landing passengers at West 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



151 



Point, Newburgh, Poughkcepsie, Rhinebcck, Red Hook, Catskill, 
Hudson, Coxsackie, Kinderhook and Coeymans, yet she reached 
Albany the next morning at thirty-nine minutes past eight o'clock. 
She left New York one hour later than the James Kent, and arrived 
at Albany only seventeen minutes behind her, and performing her 
passage in fourteen hours and thirty-nine minutes. This was, by a 
few minutes, the quickest passage from New York to Albany that 
has yet been made." The steamboat New London, Captain Fitch, 
on Friday, Aug. 19th, left New York, making a daily line with the 
Chief Justice Marshall, between New York and Troy. This boat 
had a fore mast, and with the Chief Justice Marshall, landed pas- 
sengers and freight at the dock at the foot of Ferry street. 

Under a heading of " Quick travelling," the editor of the Senti- 
nel thus speaks of the time of transit between Troy and Philadel- 
phia : 

" We perceive by the New York papers that the route from Phila- 
delphia to this city may be travelled in a little less than tweniy-tiine 
hours — the distance is 246 miles. The Citizens' Coach leaves Phil- 
adelphia at six o'clock in the morning, arrives in New York in the 
afternoon of the same day, in time for travellers to embark on board 
the steamboat at 5 o'clock, and reach Troy next morning." 

General La Fayette made a second visit to Troy on Friday, the 
first day of July, 1825. The second coming to Troy of the Mar- 
quis is thus related : 

" On Thursday evening an express who was on his way to Albany, 
brought news that the General would reach Waterford that night. 
A message was accordingly sent to Waterford by our Mayor, to 
convey an invitation to the ' Guest of the Nation ' to take breakfast 
in Troy on Friday morning. The invitation was accepted, and at 
about 8 o'clock the municipal committee, with a large number of 
citizens in coaches and on horseback, escorted by the officers of our 
city militia, mounted and in uniform, set out to meet ' the desired of 
all eyes ' and wait on him into the city. The committee, with the 
procession, received him, after he had partaken of the civilities of 
Lansingburgh, and escorted him to the Troy House, where he was 
met by the Mayor and Common Council, and a large number of cit- 
izens, anxious to look again at the form and face of one so honored 
and so endeared to the American people. Soon after his arrival he 
sat down to an excellent breakfast. The table was beautifully set 
out with substantial viands, with the finest ripe fruit, cherries and 



152 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

berries, and decked with fresh blown roses, exhaling their fragrance 
and glittering with dew. Breakfast being over, he called on the 
family of John D. Dickinson, Esq., and after receiving the polite at- 
tention of that hospitable mansion, he visited the Troy Female Sem- 
inary. He was received with great propriety by the respectable 
lady principal of that valuable institution, and after gratifying the 
amiable members of the school with another sight of the friend of 
their country, he returned to the Troy House, where a delegation 
from Albany met him, and took him into their carriage as he bid 
farewell to Troy." 

The remarkable size of the fish in the river in front of the city 
was shown in a draught of a seine near the dam, on the second of 
July, in which twenty-nine striped bass were taken, weighing two 
hundred and forty-five pounds. Two of them aggregated fifty-two 
pounds. 

The year 1825 was made memorable by the completion of the 
canals. The period between the commencement and completion of 
the Erie Canal was eight years, three months and fifteen days. The 
first ground was broken on the fourth of July, 181 7, near Rome, 
and in October, 1825, the first boat passed from Lake Erie to the 
Hudson. The Champlain Canal was commenced in October, 1816, 
and was finally completed in 1825. The annual report of the com- 
missioners in April, 1826, stated the expenditures for construction, 
including interest upon loans, at $10,731,594.75, and the amount of 
debt outstanding at $7,737,770.99, payable in 1837 and 1845. 

The citizens of Troy celebrated this event with becoming honors. 

"Yesterday forenoon (Oct. 30, 1825) our city was gratified with 
the sight of an interesting stranger from the far west, gaily decked 
and displaying the signals of peace and patriotism. This stranger 
was no other than the well built and well furnished canal boat "The 
Niagara " from Black Rock. About ten o'clock, a. m., she was seen 
lying in the side-cut opposite this place with her colors flying, 
and with General P. B Porter and a party of his friends from 
the west on board. As soon as our citizens were informed of the 
arrival of the Niagara, the Common Council, accompanied by a 
party of citizens, crossed the river in a brace of barges to greet the 
western gentlemen, to welcome this new pledge of a rapidly extend- 
ing commercial intercourse, and to mingle the waters of the Erie 
with those of the Hudson. In the meantime, a piece of artillery 
was planted on McCoun's wharf, and as the Niagara descended 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 153 

through the lock, floated out upon the swelling bosom of the Hud- 
son, she was greeted with a salute of twenty-four guns, and the bells 
of the city rung forth a merry peal. The boat then crossed the 
river escorted by the barges, and was laid alongside of one of our 
wharves. By this time many more citizens had assembled, and the 
whole party moved up in procession to the Troy House, 7vhere the 
wato'S were again mingled^ and the company again interchanged con- 
gratulations." 

The following houses were regular importers in Troy in the year 
1S25 : In dry goods, H. & G. Vail, and Southwick, Cannon & 
Warren ; in crockery and glassware, Pierce, Sackett & Co. and 
Russell & Hall ; in hardware, P. Heartt & Sons, Craft, Hart & 
Pitcher, and Nazro «S; Curtis ; in iron wares, T. McCoun & Co. 
and A. & W. Kellogg & Co. 

The population of Troy in 1835 was 7,859, which was only thirty- 
seven short of fifty per cent, increase in five years. The whole 
number of females in the city exceeded that of the males by twenty- 
three persons. " This is evidence of a good state of morals and 
manners, and proves that the duties and burdens of life are very 
fairly divided between the sexes, and that they are mutual helpers." 
The number of paupers was decimated to twenty-eight, and only 
two hundred and ninety-three persons of color were among the in- 
habitants. Among the manufactories were six grist mills, three saw 
mills, one oil mill, one fulling mill, one cotton factory, one distillery. 
The quantity of wheat annually manufactured into flour was 325,- 
000 bushels, with a capacity for 500,000 bushels. The three iron 
and nail factories produced 700 tons of nails, and 500 tons of band 
and hoop iron and nail rods. One shovel and spade factory, man- 
ufactured 500 dozen shovels and spades annually. Two air furnaces 
made from 500 to 600 tons of pig iron, which was converted into 
ploughs, potash kettles, caldrons, small ware and machinery. One 
machine shop manufactured machinery and steam engines. Three 
breweries made about 8,000 barrels of ale, much of which was sent 
abroad under the name of " Troy Ale," and which secured a high 
reputation. The four tanneries produced $160,000 worth of excel- 
lent leather. Two shoe factories made $25,000 worth of shoes for 
the trade, and for the United States army. There were also in the 
city, one paper mill, one rope walk, three carriage factories, several 
large coopering establishments, two bleaching and calendering 
houses, one gun, and two chair factories. 
20 



I 54 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

The first steam engine made in Troy was one manufactured by 
John C. Langdon & Co., in 1825. It was constructed for the steam- 
boat General Greene, which was to ply on Lake Champlain. Two 
others were in process of construction at the same time, one for 
Buffalo and one for Black Rock. Starbuck & Gurley executed the 
castings at their air furnace. 

The number of sloops owned in Troy were sixty-six, with an ag- 
gregate tonnage of 4,489 tons. The value of commodities shipped 
from Troy in 1825 amounted to ^2,500,000. In 1826 the profess- 
ional men were divided among the three professions as follcws : 
five clergymen, twelve physicians, and thirty-one lawyers. 

The growth of the city, and the increased number of inhabitants, 
suggested to a number of Presbyterians residing in the vicinity of 
Grand Division street, the propriety of organizing a second Presby- 
terian Church, and of erecting an edifice in that locality. The pro- 
ject met with much favor, and ground was secured on the south- 
east corner of Sixth and Grand Division streets. 

"On Wednesday, July 12, 1826, the corner-stone of the Second 
Presbyterian Church in this city, was laid in the presence of a large 
concourse of people. The Trustees of the First Presbyte- 
rian Church were received by those of the Second at the 
house of Gideon Buckingham, and from thence the Rev. Clergy 
and the Trustees of the two societies proceeded to the corner of 
Sixth and Grand Division streets, the site selected for the new 
church, where the ceremonies were to be performed. The exercises 
were commenced by prayer from Rev. Ebenezer Cheever. A box 
of cast iron was then placed in a niche which had been prepared 
for it in the corner-stone. On the bottom of the box were the 
names of its makers, Starbuck & Gurley, iron founders. The cover 
was of bell metal cast by Mr. J. Hanks, and having the inscription : 
'Julius Hanks, July 12th, 1826.' In the box was deposited a cop- 
per plate with the following inscription : ' The corner-stone of the 
Second Presbyterian Church was laid July 12, 1826. Trustees, 
Jeremiah Dauchy, Stephen Eldridge, William D. Haight, Robert D. 
Silliman, Uriah Wallace, Gideon Buckingham. Nehemiah Brown, 
mason ; John Ayres, carpenter.' In the box were also deposited 
one number of each of the several papers published in tins city, 
and the different denominations of American silver and copper coin. 
After the box had been deposited and the corner-stone fixed in 
its place, the Rev. N. S. S. Beman delivered an appropriate address. 



' ft I ",'i 




HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 155 

and the exercises closed with a prayer from Rev. Mr. Bascom, of 
South Carolina."' 

In November, 1826, the Common Council passed a resolution for 
lighting River street from the lower ferry to Hoosick street. This 
year the Baptist church was enlarged. A comfortable i)arsonage 
had been added to the church property in 1824. 

An Apprentices' Library Avas established in the spring of 1827, 
with about three hundred books. James A. Zander was ap- 
pointed librarian. The annual fee for membership was two 
dollars for journeymen and fifty cents for apprentices. 

The congregation of St. Paul's Church, which had worshiped in 
the old building erected in 1804 at the north-west corner of Third, 
and Congress streets, in 1826 determined to purchase several lots 
on the north-east corner of State and Third streets, and to erect 
thereon a larger structure. The corner-stone of the new building 
was laid on the twenty-sixth day of April, 1827. "At four o'clock 
in the afternoon, the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of the con- 
gregation of St. Paul's Church, went in procession from the old 
church, attended by the clergy of the city and a large concourse of 
people. In the cavity of the corner-stone, made for the purpose, a 
glass vase was deposited with the following contents : the Holy 
Bible and Book of Common Prayer, enclosed in leather and covered 
with wax ; a manuscript history of the origin and progress of the 
Episcopal Church in this city ; a list of the houses of worship now 
in Troy, and a list of the clergymen ; a roll with the following Latin 
inscription: ' In hac urbe i6mo Jan., A. D. 1804, Societas Christ- 
iana, auctoritate Episcopalis Ecclesiee Protestantium in Feoderatis 
civitatibus Americre Septentrionalis, appellata Ecclesia Santi Pauli, 
Trojae, prima est constituta. Suum templum, eodem anno redificatum 
refectum est, A. D. 1819, ac amplius constructum, A. D. 1827, 24- 
mo Apr. Rev. David Butler, Rectore, necnon Valde Rev. Johanna 
Henrico Hobart, Episcopo, hoc novum templum, auspiciis beatis, 
conditum est ' ; a copy of Sword's Pocket Almanac, Christian Cal- 
endar and Ecclesiastical Register for 1827; a copy of Tuttle & 
Richards' City Calendar for the years 1826 and 1827 ; the last num- 
ber of each of the five papers jniblished in the city; one number of 
several other periodical journals; a New York Price Current; a 
printed address to parents on the subject of Sunday Schools ; a 
printed circular *-o the members of the Episcopal Church in the 

1 Troy Sentinel, July 14, 182G. 



156 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

United States ; and a silver plate on which was engraved the follow- 
ing inscription : ' This corner-stone of Saint Paid's Protestant 
Episcopal Church of the city of Troy, was laid on the 24th day of 
April, Anno Domini 1827, and the 51st year of the Independence 
of the United States of America, by the Rev. David Butler, Rector 
of the Church ; Nathan Bouton and Esaias Warren, Wardens ; 
George Tibbits, Nathan Warren, William Bradley, Nathan Dauchy, 
Francis Yvonett, Elias Pattison, James Van Brakle and David Buel, 
Jr., Vestrymen. The Rt. Rev. John H. Hobart, Bishop of the Prot- 
estant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of the State of New York, 
Nathan Bouton, Nathan Dauchy, Lewis Richards, Jacob Bishop, 
Nathan Warren, Building Committee ; Master Builders — Peter Stew- 
art, James McFarlan, masons ; Farquhar McRae, John Corey, car- 
penters. John Quincy Adams, President of the United States of 
America.' After the corner-stone had been fixed in its place, the 
Rev. David Butler, Rector of the Church, delivered an appropriate 
and very impressive address, and the exercises closed with a devout 
prayer to^Almighty God, supplicating his blessing on the work upon 
which they had entered. The church is to be built one hundred 
and three feet in length, and seventy feet in width. It is tO be 
built of Amsterdam stone, in the pure Gothic style, and its estimafc-d 
cost is $31,000."' Henry Erben was the builder of the organ, 
which had eighteen stops and eight hundred and sixty-five pipes. 

The new church of Saint Paul's was consecrated on Saturday, 
August 16, 1828, by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart. A large con- 
gregation of people assembled to witness the ceremonies. The rite 
of confirmation was administered to forty persons. On the iSth of 
August, 1828, one hundred pews in the new edifice were sold for 
$38,000. 

In the fall and winter of 1826-27, Rev. Charles G. Finney assist- 
ed Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, the pastor of the First Presbyterian 
congregation, in a series of revival meetings held in that church. 
During the progress of these meetings, exceptions were taken from 
time to time by a number of the members to certain expressions in 
the prayers offered by those leading in these assemblies, and also to 
some of the pulpit utterances of Dr. Beman. Considerable feeling 
was manifested by the several parties, which in a short time grew 
into a public rupture of that denominational body. Many of the 
disaffected withdrew their names from the roll of membership and 

Troy Sentinel, May i, 1S27. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 157 

connected themselves with other churches. ^I'his disturbed condi- 
tion of the Church, in the progress of time, was followed by many 
blessings, which attended the earnest and diligent labors of its able 
pastor, Dr. Beman. 

The Roman Catholics in the city of Troy and vicinity had been 
accustomed previous to the year 1827, to worship and to attend the 
celebration of Mass in the old Court House on Second street. The 
congregation thus assembling was known at the time as the members 
of St. Peter's Church of Troy, which had been organized under 
that name in 1824, in a school-house on Ferry street. The demoli- 
tion of the county buildings in 1827, suggested the erection of a 
better and a more fitting edifice for public worship, and on the nine- 
teenth of February, 1827, an incorporation was effected by the elec- 
tion of nine Trustees in the Court House. These were Keating 
Rawson, Patrick Irwin, Edward Lawlor, Patrick Mooney, Patrick 
Cole, George Donleavey, Philip Quinn, Michael Egan and James 
Cantwell. Rev. Father McGilligan was the first officiating priest. 
A frame building was erected on the north-east corner of North 
Second and Hutton streets, which, in 1829, was dedicated by the 
Right Rev. John Dubois, Bishop of New York, assisted by Rev. 
John Shanahan and other priests from New York city. 

This wooden edifice was destroyed by fire about noon of February 
loth, 1848. The building was insured $6,000, and the organ $1,000. 

On Tuesday, the nineteenth of June, 1827, the steamboat Star, 
built by William Annesley, which was to ply between Troy and Al- 
bany, was successfully launched from the Troy shipyard. A. W. 
Raymond was to command the new boat. John C. Langdou & Co, 
were the makers of the engine placed on this vessel. 

The Second Presbyterian church was dedicated on Wednesday, 
July 18, 1827. The opening prayer was made by Rev. Dr. Chester, 
of Albany, the dedicatory prayer by Rev. Mr. Cheever, of Water- 
ford, and the dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr. Griffin, 
President of Williams College. The building had sittings for seven 
hundred people, w^ith five hundred additional in the gallery. 

The State Street Methodist church was dedicated on the first day 
of December, 1827, Rev. Bishop Hedding officiating. The edifice 
was built of brick, and was sixty-six feet long by fifty-five wide. 

This year the old Court House and Jail, which had been erected 
in 1793-94, v/ere taken down and the building of the present Court 
House was begun. The city authorities made a tax levy of $3,000 



158 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

this year, and in 1828 a second one for ^4,000, and in 1829 a third* 
one for $3,000 for the erection of the Court House. 

At the close of the year 1827, the anti-masonic excitement was 
spreading throughout the United States, and a most bitter warfare 
was waged against this secret organization for ahnost ten years. 
The subject entered into the political discussions of the time, and 
the members of this ancient order were ostracized from society as 
disreputable persons. The Troy lodge was a mutual sufferer with 
its brethren elsewhere, and only a sufficient number to constitute 
a lodge could assemble annually to elect the proper officers. Among 
these few members were : John D. Willard, W. M.; Peter Sharp, S. 
W. , and Lyman Garfield, J. W. These held their offices from 1827 
to 1836 in Apollo lodge. In this struggle, in the year 1834, St. 
John's Hall in the Troy House was abandoned, and the lodge room 
removed to the Mansion House, of which at that time Dr. George 
V. Huddlestone was the proprietor. 

The entertainments of traveling theatrical troupes were generally 
given in the large ball chambers of the different taverns of 
Troy. The Assembly Room at the Rensselaer House (for- 
merly Bull's Head Tavern) corner of River and Second streets, was 
often designated " The Troy Theater," by itinerant actors. The 
bills of entertainment were principally made up of tragedy, such 
as the well-known play of "Douglass, or the noble Shepherd." 
Tickets were nominally fifty cents. In traveling menageries, in- 
stead of single animals as in the early part of the century, a larger 
number made up an exhibition. "A grand exhibition of living ani- 
mals" at Water's Hotel, 59 Second street, in 1828, included "a sea 
dog, a crocodile, a Spanish lynx, a young cub, an alligator, a black 
coati, and a serpent." The exhibition was "accompanied with 
good music on an Italian Cymbal and other instruments." The 
admittance was is. 6d. ; and children at half price. Here was also 
exhibited the elephant " Columbus," the largest animal of its kind 
known to showmen in the United States. Calvin Edson, the great 
living skeleton, was also an attraction at this well-known hotel. 

The Troy Museum on the north-east corner of State and River 
streets, was about this time established, and at the time was quite 
famous for its curiosities and other attractive features. An ad- 
vertisement most respectfully informed the citizens of Troy and 
strangers generally, that this splendid establishment would be kept 
open for company every day, and brilliantly lighted in the evenings. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. I 59 

Among the many curiosities wliicli were then lately added " a fine 
panther, a kangaroo, a wolf, and a fine set of views," completed the 
list. "The Museum occupied two rooms, one over the other. In 
the lower one are about 250 birds of various species, and about 50 
animals. In the same room is a case containing more than 700 
insects, a case of specimens for illustrations in mineralogy and 
geology, comprising 600 pieces ; a case of petrifactions, coralines, 
and other zoophytes about 200. Also two cases of shells about 600 
specimens, and a case of about 100 reptiles and insects preserved 
in spirits ; a case of shell fish ; curious articles of dress, and im- 
plements of war and the chase. In the upper room there 
is a much larger collection of the implements of war of 
various savage tribes, of household utensils, and articles of dress. 
A collection of wax figures, paintings, portraits, landscapes, and 
pictures seen through magnifying glasses." This Museum was 
under the care and direction of Manager Hand. 

The Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank of Troy was organized, 
under an Act of the Legislature, passed April 29, 1829. The capi- 
tal stock was not to exceed $300,000, which was divided into 6,000 
shares at $50 each. The commissioners to receive subscriptions 
were : George Vail, Jedediah Tracy, Elias Pattison, John P. Cush- 
man, Rufus Richards, Nathan Warren, Jonas C. Heartt and Gurdon 
Grant. The Bank began business in the Mansion House kept by 
Daniel D. Howard. George Vail was the first President, and Alan- 
son Douglas, Cashier. The Board of Directors were : George Vail, 
Jedediah Tracy, Rufus Richards, Nathan Warren, Elias Pattison, 
John P. Cushman, Jonas C. Heartt, Gurdon Grant, Jeremiah Chi- 
chester, Samuel Pitcher, Isaac McConihe, William Smith and Ste- 
phen W. Dana. 

River street was paved for the first time in 1829. Door numbers 
also were used as designating marks to the houses throughout the 
city. 

The first Troy Directory was issued this year by John Disturnell, 
who in company with his brother William, had a bookstore at No. 
201, east side of River street. This store was established by them 
in 1822. The first publication of John Disturnell was in 1823, a 
pocket edition of Webster's Dictionary. This active and industri- 
ous publisher has compiled arid issued during his busy life more 
than fifty volumes. He was born in Lansingburgh Oct. 26, 1801, 
and is now a resident of New York city. 



l6o HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

It was suggested in the papers this year that maple and ehn trees 
should be planted in front of the First Presbyterian church, and in 
the Park in front of the Seminary building. 

The Troy steamboat, the Chief Justice Marshall, burst her boiler 
on Thursday evening, April 22, 1830, shortly after leaving New- 
burgh. Eight persons died of scalds, and five others were 
severely injured. 

The first daily paper published in Troy was the " Daily Troy Sen- 
tinel," edited by O. L. Holley, Esq., and published by Tuttle & 
Gregory, at No. 225 River street. The first issue was on Saturday 
evening, May i, 1830. The Troy Sentinel (weekly, semi-weekly, 
and daily,) was one of the ablest edited papers ever issued in Troy. 
In matters of improvement, benevolence, morals, religion and poli- 
tics, it always led the people to higher planes of knowledge, influ- 
ence and prosperity, and never did it forsake or forget the interests 
of Troy and its people. 

In the fall of 1830 a number of individuals, desiring to organize 
a second Protestant Episcopal Church in Troy, first assembled for 
that purpose in the session-house, then on Fourth street, now where 
building No. 71 is situated. In this edifice, in the month of Novem- 
ber, the instrument of incorporation of St. John's Episcopal Church 
of Troy was signed. This instrument certified that pursuant to due 
notice, a meeting of the male members of the congregation had 
been held, at which two Church Wardens and eight Vestrymen had 
been elected, — David Buel and John Whiton being elected Church 
Wardens, and Darius Weed, David Buel, Jr., Lewis Rousseau, A?i- 
hel Gilbert, Jr., Charles S. J. Goodrich, F. N. Mann, H. Rousseau and 
Melzar Flagg, being elected Vestrymen. 

On the twenty-third of December of the same year, St. Paul's 
church, on the north-west corner of Congress and Third streets, 
was formally purchased, and this memorable edifice became the 
property of the congregation. In the month of May, 1831, Rev. 
John A. Hicks, of Easton, Pa., became the first rector of this sec- 
ond Episcopal Church. 

The Troy Water Works Company was incorporated the eighteenth 
of April, 1829. The Corporation consisted of Stephen Warren, Le 
Grand Cannon, Philander Wells, and their associates. The capital 
stock was $250,000; the shares $50 each. The first survey for the 
purpose of securing a sufficient quantity of good water was made by 
William Roberts, by a resolution of the Common Council, April 22, 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, l6l 

1830. The Water Works Company having obtained a charter, sur- 
rendered it and the accompanying powers to the Common Council 
of Troy by an act of Legislature sanctioning the transfer. In the 
spring of 1833, a reservoir was constructed on the Piscawen Kill 
and a dam built. The reservoir was one hundred and sixteen feet 
long, sixty-seven broad, and was over eight feet deep, with a capacity 
of 448,838 gallons of water. A second reservoir with a capacity of 
115,312 gallons was connected by a gate with the first, through 
which the water passed through to the second one. A third reser- 
voir with a capacity of 321,837 gallons was constructed, which was 
supplied by the two former. This reservoir was covered with an 
arch of brick, supported by side walls restmg everywhere upon a 
rocky foundation. From this one the water passed through a close 
wire screen into an iron pipe of twelve inches in diameter. In 1848 
there were eleven and a quarter miles of mains. In 1855, by legis- 
lative enactment, the control of the water works of the city of Troy 
Avas transferred to five commissioners : Harvey Smith, Thomas Sy- 
monds, Liberty Gilbert, Joseph M. Warren and William F. Sage. 

In the fall of 1856, the wooden dam at the reservoir was removed 
and one of stone constructed, seven feet at the bottom, five feet 
seven inches at the toi), seventeen feet high, and sixty-seven and a 
half feet long. In the month of July, i860, a strong reservoir with 
a capacity of 37,000,000 gallons, covering six and a half acres, was 
constructed a short distance east of Oakwood avenue. A second 
one, which was finished in 1862, with a capacity of 50,000,000 gal- 
lons was built near Cemetery avenue at a cost of ^29,312 62. These 
reservoirs, with their appertaining dams and lakes, had a capacity of 
about two hundred and fifty millions of gallons. In 1863, another 
reservoir was built for the storage of water, about four miles from 
the city, in the town of Brunswick. This one covered a territory 
of- twenty acres, and has a capacity of 180,000,000 gallons. 

The manufacturing interests of Troy in 1830 as represented in the 
Directory of that year, embraced : 

" The Ida Mills. — This establishment is for spinning and weav- 
ing cotton. It contains 2,400 spindles, and 68 power looms ; spins 
55,000 lbs. yarn, nos. 32 to ^6, and 20,000 lbs. yarn, nos. 5 to 20, per 
annum ; weaves 270,000 yards cotton cloth from the fine yarn, most 
of which is pn'n/ed at the Hudson print works; employs about 100 
hands, a majority being females and children. About 170 persons 
derive their support from the establishment. A day school is kept 
21 



1 62 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

in the precincts throughout the year, and a night school about half 
the year. , 

" Troy Cotton and Woolen Factory, contains i,6oo spindles, 
and 36 power looms, spins 74,000 lbs. yarn, nos. 12 to 19, per an- 
num; weaves 250,000 yards shirtings, which are bleached ; and em- 
ploys about 80 hands, seven-eighths being females and children. 

" Troy Woolen Factory contains 1,000 spindles, 20 satinette 
power looms, 10 broad flannel looms; works up about 95,000 lbs. 
wool per annum; weaves 75,000 yards satinette, and 100,000 yards 
flannel, and employs about 80 hands, three-fourths being females 
and children. About 370 persons derive their support from this 
and the preceding establishment, which are very near each other. 
A day school is kept throughout the year ; a night school during 3 
to 6 months , and a Sabbath school every Sunday, averaging So to 
90 scholars. 

"Troy Iron and Nail Factory, John Converse, agent. At these 
works 900 tons of iron were rolled last year, of which 650 tons were 
cut into nails. More than 5,000 nail kegs were used; 350 tons of 
Lehigh coal, with 10,000 bushels of charcoal, were consumed ; and 
more than 40 men employed. The annual disbursement on account 
of this establishment, is about 8150,000, of which the largest part is 
paid for iron ; and about ^30,000 for labor immediately connected 
with the works. 

"Spike Factory owned by the proprietors of the Iron and Nail 
Factory, made about 150 tons of wrought spikes, employed 8 men, 
and consumed about 40 tons of Lehigh coal, with about 2,000 bush- 
els charcoal. 

"Albany Nail Factory, Thomas Turner, Jr., agent, drives 12 
cut-nail machines, and during the year ending April i, 1830, rolled 
825 tons of iron, of which 450 tons were cut into nails, and 375 tons 
were for other uses , it employs an average of 32 men constantly. 

"TrOy Air Furnace, owned by N. Starbuck & Sons, melts about 
600 tons of iron annually. In connection with this establishment, 
the proprietors have also a Machine Shop, for making steam engines 
and boilers, for turning and boring iron, for cutting screws, &c., &:c. 
They have a plough factory which turns out annually 500 ploughs ; 
they employ about 30 men constantly. 

"Rensselaer Air Furnace, owned by L. Stratton & Son. This 
establishment has been recently fitted up, and is now extensive 
enough to enable its proprietors to melt 500 tons of iron per annum. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. J 63 

and to cast any article usually made in a furnace, viz : machine, 
mill and steam engine castings; paper mill screws, sleigh shoes, win- 
dow weights, ploughs and plough castings, &c., &c. 

" Troy Steam Engine Factory and Machine Shop, owned by 
John C. Langdon. At this establishment are made steam engines 
and boilers, paper mill screws and various other screws, cotton fac- 
tory gearing, horse-boat machinery, &c., &c. The annual disburse- 
ment is about $15,000, and about 15 men are employed. 

" Chichester's Coopering Establishment turns out annually 
more than 80,000 casks of all kinds, worth about $40,000. The 
whole manufacture of the city, in this way, is more than 100,000 
casks, of about $60,000 in value. 

" Soap and Candle Factory, owned by John Converse, makes 
about 300,000 lbs. rough tallow into candles and soap, mostly for 
export, and employs about 10 men. The annual disbursements for 
stock, &:c., are about $40,000. 

" Carriage Factories. — Of these there are two principal ones, 
of about equal extent, one owned by Charles Veazie, and the other 
by Orsamus Eaton. They turn out in all about 50 post-coaches, 
and about 100 other carriages, worth altogether about $50,000 ; they 
both employ about 60 men on an average. 

" Sash Factory, owned by E. Prescott & Co., made last year 
28,500 lights of sash, and employed 2 men. 

'■ Breweries. — Of these there are three, which make annually 
14,000 bbls. beer, worth $70,000. 

" Brush Factory. — This establishment is owned by Dater & 
M'Murray, who manufacture annually 75,000 brushes of all kinds, 
worth $25,000. 

" Stove Factories. — There are several of these, and altogether 
the value of their sales is estimated at $120,000 per annum. 

"Tanneries and Currying Shops. — The value of the whole 
manufacture of leather, from skins of all kinds, is estimated, upon 
careful inquiry, at not less than $175,000. 

" Shoe Making. — There are two establishments at which shoes 
are made for export, and they both turn out, annually, the value of 
more than $40,000 

" Flouring Mills. — Of these there are five, and they make about 
80,000 bbls. annually. 

" Freighting. — About 70 sloops, averaging 80 tons each, and the 
New London with 10 tow boats, that average 150 tons each, en- 



164 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

gaged in the transportation of produce and goods, to and from New 
York to Troy. The tow boats carry an average of 16,000 tons 
down freight, and 12,000 tons up freight, annually." 

The Third Presbyterian Church was organized in Albia, January 
•16, 1831, with sixty-five members. The first elders were Jesse 
Tracy, Andrew Fitch and Alsaph Clarke. A frame building was 
erected for a house of worship the same year. This was destroyed 
by fire in 1853, but was rebuilt with brick. 

In March, 1831, Troy had in its fire department eight engine 

companies, and one hook and ladder company , comprising two 

hundred and seventy-five men. There were eight engines, 

^ ' five hose carts, twenty-two hundred feet of hose, five lad- 
ders, six hooks, eight axes and thirty-one fire buckets. During the 
year 1830 there were five fires; estimated loss $8,500. 

This year an hourly line of stages was established between Albany 
and Troy, and before the summer ended the stages were running 
half-hourly. In the month of October, 1834, 12,589 passengers 
were carried between the two places, and fares amounted to $3,147. 

The Troy Insurance Company, chartered April 5, 1831, with a 
capital stock of $200,000, on Wednesday, August 31, elected its 
first directors. They were Nathan Dauchy, Robert D. Silliman, 
Jesse Patrick, William P. Haskin, Thomas Read, Latham Cornell, 
William D. Haight, John D. Willard, Alsop Weed, Charles H. Mer- 
ritt, James Rankin, Elnathan F. Grant, Ebenezer Prescott, Sylvester 
Norton, Jeremiah Chichester, Calvin Warner, Henry Vail, George 
B. Warren, Alfred Wotkyns, Jedediah Tracy, Thaddeus B. Bigelow, 
Jacob Dater, John Thomas, William Hart, Asahel Gilbert, Jr., Israel 
Seymour, James Dougrey, Norman Squires, Munson Smith and 
Aaron C. Dennis. The officers were : Nathan Dauchy, President; 
Robert D Silliman, Assistant President ; and John D. Willard, Sec- 
retary. 

The value of real estate in Troy at this time was already raised 
to advanced figures, and all of the best business locations command- 
ed high prices. The extreme north lot on the west side of Second 
street, fifty by one hundred and thirty feet, occupied for a number 
of years by Charles Veazie as a coach factory, was sold in the fall 
for $10,500. 

The inhabitants of Troy had not forgotten the generosity of the 
people who had ministered to the wants of the sufferers by the fire 
of 1820, and when other places were desolated by fire, Troy imme- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 1 65 

diately sent money and other gifls. Tlie following paragraph is an 
evidence of their benevolence : 

" There are now ready for shipment two bells from Hanks' foun- 
dry in this city, for our desolated friends at Fayetteville, one for the 
Presbyterian congregation and the other for the Ej^iscopal church. 
On one was ' In Hammis Peril XXIX Mail, A. D. MDCCCXXXI, 
Munere Amicum E cinere surrexi. In flames I perished 29th May, 
A. D. 1 83 1. Through the bounty of friends I have arisen from the 
ashes. The following inscription was furnished by the committee 
of the Second Presbyterian Church : ' In ecclesia Seconda Presby- 
teriana in Troja, Nov Ebor. J. Hanks, Troy, N. Y., 1831.' Trans- 
lation : From the Second Presbyterian Church in Troy, N. Y. On 
the Episcopal bell was: 'Tribute of love from St. Paul's Church, 
Troy, to St. John's Church, Fayetteville, 1831. In flammis perii, in 
amore surrexi. I perished in flames: in love I arose. J. Hanks, 
fecit, Troy, N. Y. ' " 

With reference to the business of Troy, the Sentinel stated in 
June, 1832, that Julius Hanks had cast a bell for the fust 
Presbyterian society of the town of Monroe, in the territory '^" 

of Michigan. Troy is furnishing church bells to Michigan, and 
post-coaches to Mexico." 

On the twelfth of March there occurred a great flood, which car- 
ried away a part of the Cohoes bridge across the Mohawk, and the 
river, on Tuesday, the 13th, at eleven o'clock, was eighteen mches 
higher than the great freshet in 18 iS. 

In April, 1832, an hourly line of stages began running between 
Troy and Lansingburgh, and were well patronized by the public. 

Previous to the completion of the Erie and Champlain canals, the 
business of Troy had been mostly confined to its immediate vicini- 
ty, but with the opening of these important water channels, its com- 
mercial relations became more extended, and its trade enlarged. 
Wholesale and commission houses were established, and its manu- 
facturers increased the capacity of their mills, and secured larger 
orders for their productions. As these advantages of internal trans- 
portation became more manifested to the enterprising merchants of 
Troy, other and more rapid methods were projected, among which 
the building of a railroad from Troy to Ballston Spa was the first to 
be undertaken. An Act to incorporate the Rensselaer &: Saratoga 
Railroad Company was passed by the Legislature April 14, 1832, for 
the purpose of building a single or a double railroad from some 



1 66 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

proper point in the city of Troy, passing through the village of 
Waterford, to the village of Ballston Spa, with power to erect bridges 
between the points named. The commencement of the work was 
limited to three years, and its completion to five years after its 
beginning, The capital stock was fixed at three hundred thousand 
shaies of one hundred dollars each. The commissioners appointed 
by the charter were : John Knickerbacker, John House, Stephen 
Warren, William Pierce, William D Haight, James Cook and Joel 
Lee 

In 1833, Richard P. Hart was chosen President, and Elisha Tib- 
bits, George Griswold, John Cramer, John Knickerbacker, Richard 
P, Hart, Townsend McCoun, Nathan Warren, Stephen Warren, 
George Vail, Le Grand Cannon, Moses Williams, John P. Cushman, 
and John Paine, were chosen directors of the company. 

The Rensselaer County Sunday School Union was organized in 
1832. 

On the ninth of February, (833, at a meeting of a number of per- 
sons, principally residing in the southern part of the city, it 
was determined to organize a fourth Presbyterian congrega- 
tion, and to erect a suitable house of worship, A committee to so- 
licit subscriptions was appointed, which in a few days had obtained 
$23,325. The ground whereon the present Second Street Presby- 
terian church is situated, was purchased, and on the second day of 
July the corner-stone was laid. The building was finished and 
dedicated the sixth day of August, 1834. On the twenty-fifth of 
this month the Sunday School was organized. A board of Trustees 
was elected September 13th, composed of the following persons; 
George Palmer, Matthew Lane, John T. McCoun, Henry Burden, 
Hanford N. Lockwood, Le Roy Mowry, Alfred Slason, John Wheel- 
er and Townsend M. Vail. The Church was organized by the 
Presbytery of Troy on the 23d of September, on petition of sixty- 
nine members from the Second Presbyterian Church, and by the 
election of Abraham Nash, George Vail, Daniel Wight, Edward 
Wilson, Jr., Elders, and Abraham Brower, Deacon. On the same 
day a unanimous call was given the Rev. W. D. Snodgrass, D. D., 
to become the pastor of the new congregation. On Friday morn- 
ing, October 3d, 1834, he was installed pastor of the Second Street 
Presbyterian Church. The introductory prayer was offered by Rev. 
Dr. Spring, of New York city ; the sermon was preached by Rev. 
Dr. Miller, of Princeton, N. J.; the charge to the pastor was made 



HISTORY OI'' THE CITY OF TROY. 167 

by Rev. Mr. Smith, of Waterford, and Rev. Dr. Tucker delivered 
the charge to the pe()j)le. 

The Troy and Hartford Stage Line was established in March, 
1833, and in June a daily line of stages began running between 
Troy and Saratoga Springs. 

The. Troy City Bank was incorporated April 19th, 1833, with a 
capital stock of $5300,000; 6,000 shares at $50 each. On Wednes- 
day, July loth, at Washington Hall, No. 331 River street, E. & P. 
Dorlon proprietors, the following persons were elected directors of 
the Bank : Ricliard P. Hart, Robert D. Silliman, Alsop Weed, Henry 
Vail, John T. McCoun, George B. Warren, Job Pierson, Abraham 
Van Tuyl, Gilbert Reilay, William P. Haskin, Thaddeus B. Bigelow, 
Anson Arnold and Elnathan F. Grant. Richard P. Hart was elect- 
ed President, and George R. Davis, Cashier. In September George 
R. Davis resigned, and Silas K. Stow was appointed Cashier. The 
regular business of the bank was first conducted at No. 3 Franklin 
Square, until the banking house was completed, September 13, 1833. 

Kentucky's distinguished senator, Henry Clay, visited Troy on 
Thursday, November 14th, 1833. He was received by the people 
in the Court House, Hon. George Tibbits, the Mayor, bade him 
welcome in an appropriate address. An elegantly mounted double- 
barreled rifle, made by A. D. Gushing, was presented him by Fran- 
cis V. Yvonett, Esq., in behalf of the young men of Troy. He 
and his wife remained in the city until Monday, the guest of John 
D. Dickinson. On Sunday morning they attended worship in St. 
Paul's church, and in the afternoon services in the Baptist church, 
of which Rev. B. M. Hill was then pastor. 

In the year 1822 Henry Burden became associated with the man- 
ufacturing interests of the Troy Iron and Nail Factory The ma- 
chinery used for making nails was then very imperfect in operation 
and slow in production, and the supply of water in the Wynants- 
Kill was irregular and insufficient for the various purposes of the 
manufacturers. Flis inventive talents and technical skill were at 
once applied to perfect the nail machines, and at the same time to 
devise a series of reservoirs whereby a constant and adequate sup- 
ply of water should be obtained for the Factory 

Previous to his connection with the Troy Iron and Nail Factory, 
he was the inventor of a plough and a cultivator. In 1825 he ob- 
tained a patent for a machine for making ship spikes, and shortly 
after adapted it for the manufacture of countersunk spikes for flat 



I 68 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

rails, then in use upon the various railroads in the (United States. 
There were many difficulties which embarrassed the inventor in 
bringing this kind of machinery into favor with the people, for it 
was a general belief that machine made spikes were almost worth- 
less when compared with those made by hand. 

In the year 1833 he constructed a steamboat by which he design- 
ed to secure a less draft of water than the boats then upon the river, 
and to move with greater speed through the water. The lower deck 
of the boat rested upon two long segar-shaped hulls, three hundred 
feet long, placed side by side about twelve feet apart, with a paddle 
wheel, thirty feet in diameter, amidships. The first trial of this 
new steamboat, the "Helen," on the Hudson, was made on Wednes- 
day, December 4th, 1833. Her speed was tested in July, 1834, and 
rated at eighteen miles an hour. Shortly after, while on a trip down 
the river, by a misunderstood order from the pilot, the engineer ran 
the boat against the Castleton dam, which so disabled her that she 
was condemned as worthless. In the year 1837, he built a second 
boat, which was commended as a great success by the various news- 
papers. In the winter of 1835-36, Henry Burden visited England, 
and learning that the flat rail would be superseded by the T and 
H rail, and that a different variety of railroad spikes would be 
needed, he made, on his return, the necessary modifications to his 
former m.achinery, and began the manufacture of the new spikes. 
His first contract for these spikes was with the Long Island Rail- 
road in 1836, for which company he manufactured ten tons. In 
1840 he secured a full patent for the machine. 

After years of earnest study and experiment he, in 1834, suc- 
ceeded in the construction of a machine for making horse shoes, 
and obtained a patent for it in 1835. This was one of his most 
important inventions. In 1843 he improved it, reducing its ope- 
rations to two movements, which he further improved in 1857 so 
that after receiving the heated bar, it cut, bent, and forged it into 
a perfect shaped shoe with one movement. In 1862 he made addi- 
tional improvements to it. The invention of his horse-shoe ma- 
chine was not only a commercial benefit, but was also of great po- 
litical importance to the country. In the late war, the Burden 
works supplied the Federal armies with horse shoes. The stock of 
the Confederate army, which had been taken from the various gov- 
ernment depots in the Southern States, was in time diminished, and 
possessing no other means of supply, except those obtained in the 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 169 

different raiding expeditions, it became necessary for the Confeder- 
ate States to establish works for their manufacture. To this end, 
the Confederate government employed a man named Moses to visit 
Troy and make designs of the Burden machine, with the intention 
of establishing works for their manufacture at Atlanta, Georgia. 
General Sherman's march to the sea, however, put an end to the en- 
terprise. England, France, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and other Eu- 
ropean powers have availed themselves of the benefit of this parent, 
as well as the United States. 

The protection by patent of the si)ike macliine to its inventor. 
Henry Burden, was succeeded by a litigation that was of long con- 
tinuance, and memorable in the annals of American jurisprudence 
Many distinguished lawyers in the country were engaged by the 
various litigating parties, among whom were William H. Seward. 
Nicholas Hill, Chancellor Walworth, David L Seymour and other 
leading attorneys. This noted case continued for nearly twenty 
years. 

In 1838-39 Henry Burden constructed the immense water wheel 
which Lewis Gaylord Clarke has called *' the Niagara of water 
wheels." It is an overshot wheel of sixty feet diameter, twenty -two 
feet wide, bearing thirty-six buckets, each six feet deep, and is of 
twelve hundred horse power. AVith the exception of a wheel in 
Greenock, Scotland, it is said this is the largest water wheel in the 
world. 

In the preparation of iron from the pig, Henry Burden, by a sim- 
ple contrivance, created a revolution in the process of manipulating 
the metal after leaving the puddling furnaces. Previously, this had 
been done by hammers. After the erection of the great wheel, the 
millwright discovered that no provision had been made for the ham- 
mer, as was customary. Reminding the inventor of the omission, 
he was informed that he had no use for it. In the meantime, his 
inventive mind had conceived a different principle and more rapid 
method for the treatment of iron. With a surprising simplicity of 
construction, he made a model of a machine which at once illus- 
trated its utility. By compressing the puddle balls between re- 
volving cylinders with concentric surfaces, he secured a patent for a 
" Rotary Concentric Squeezer," which the Commissioners of Patents 
declared the first truly original and the most important invention 
in the manufacture of iron at that time, which had been brought 
to the Patent office. 



170 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Through the inventions of Henry Burden, Troy has the honor to 
claim that the first ship spikes, the first hook headed spikes, and the 
first horse shoes ever made by machinery in America, were made at 
the Burden Iron Works in the south part of the city. Henry Bur- 
den became successively superintendent, agent and president, and 
finally sole owner of these valuable works. 

The intellectual culture which the people of Troy had early ac- 
quired by the establishment of the Troy Library, and by the philo- 
sophical and scientific lectures and publications of Prof. Amos Eaton 
and his learned associates of the Troy Lyceum of Natural History, 
was further advanced by the organization of the Young Mens' Asso- 
sociation. Previous to its formation, a meeting had been convened 
in the Mayor's Court Room, on Friday evening, Nov. 28, 1834, to 
decide upon the expediency of providing for a course of public lec- 
tures during the following winter ; and to discuss at the same time 
the propriety of organizing a Young Mens' Association. At this 
meeting, of which John T. McCoun was chairman, and Alexander 
McCall, Secretary, a committee was appointed, consisting of Giles 
B. Kellogg, Thomas Coleman, Martin I. Townsend, Ralph Hawley 
and Thaddeus B. Bigelow, which was instructed to draft and report 
a constitution at a subsequent meeting. On the 12th of December, 
the committee presented a form of constitution which was accepted. 
A committee of five persons from each of the four wards of the 
city was thereupon appointed to obtain signatures to the Constitu- 
tion. 

First Ward — Alfred Slason, Thaddeus Bigelow, Charles Hooper, 
I. R. Catlin and Charles E. Seymour ; Second Ward — Francis N. 
Mann, Giles B. Kellogg, G. H. Tracy, Harvey Warner and G. W. 
Francis; Third Ward — John C. Kemble, Alexander McCall, Ralph 
Hawley, W. H. Van Schoonhoven, and Thomas Coleman ; Fourth 
Ward — C. Deming, William Hagen, Jared S. Weed, Henry T. Eddy 
and S. Burrows. 

In the short interval of a week this Constitution had attached to 
it the names of four hundred and twenty-six signers. Following the 
report of the committee at the Court House, on Friday evening of 
the 19th of December, 1834, John T. McCoun was elected the first 
President of the Association, and on Wednesday evening, December 
22d, the other officers were chosen. These were: David L. Sey- 
mour, First Vice-President; Henry Loudon, Second Vice-President ; 
Thomas Coleman, Third Vice-President; John T. Lamport, Re- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 171 

cording Secretary , Giles B. Kellogg, Corresyjonding Secretary, and 
Charles E. Seymour, Treasurer. The Managers were : William H. 
Van Schoonhoven, Isaac J. Merritt, Henry Rousseau, Jarcd S. 
Weed, John S. Perry, Levinus Vanderheyden, Lorenzo Cadwell, 
Brigham L. Eaton, Harvey Warner and Lorenzo Baker. The De- 
bating Society had for its ofificers : George Gould, President ; George 
W. Francis, First Vice President ; Henry T. Eddy, Second Vice 
President, and Ralph Havvley, Secretary. The first rooms occu- 
pied by the Association, in February, 1835, were in the second 
story of the building of Abraham Fellows, No. 197 River street, 
which were thus described : 

" The rooms of the society are large and convenient, one of which 
is devoted exclusively to newspapers, both foreign, and from every 
part of the Union, There are now on file more than one hundred 
different papers. Another room is occupied by the library and the 
literary periodical publications, where may be found most, the best 
at any rate, of the American literary journals and the reprints of the 
foreign. The library numbers about one thousand volumes of stan- 
dard and substantial works. The Debating Society meets once a 
week. During the winter, two lectures a week have been delivered, 
which were fully attended." 

The following were the lecturers and their subjects for the course 
of 1834-35, delivered at the Court House : 

"Amos Dean, president Y. AL A., Albany, 'Phrenology.' Prof. 
Amos Eaton, ' The first five elementary principles of being.' Prof. 
B.i,F. Joslin, of Union College, ' The advantages of a more general 
diffusion of elementary medicinal knowledge.' Prof. Alonzo Potter, 
of Union College, 'Mechanical arts,' and one lecture on 'The science 
of duty,' Daniel Gardner, Esq., 'Political Economy.' George Gould, 
Esq., 'American literature.' Giles B. Kellogg, Esq., 'Periodical litera- 
ture.' Dr. Thomas C. Brinsmade, Jr., 'Physiology.' John Ball, Esq., 
Tour across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific' " 

The price of admission was : for a single lecture, gentlemen, 25c.; 
gentleman and lady, 37-kc.; gentleman and two ladies, 50c., for the 
season, gentleman, $1 ; gentleman and lady, $1 50 ; gentleman and 
two ladies, $2.00. 

The first annual meeting under the constitution was held on Mon- 
day evening, February i6th, 1S35, at which time the Association 
had about four hundred and fifty members. The Troy Young 
Men's Association was incorporated April 2ot]i, 1835. 



1^2 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

On the north-west corner of Fulton and Fifth streets was a church 
edifice known as the Bethel Church, in which worshiped the first 
and only society of Congregationalists ever organized in 
^ •^■^" Troy. The pastor of this congregation was Rev. Fayette 
Shipard. In this edifice, about the year 1834, Theodore D Weld 
was mobbed by a crowd of pro-slavery politicians. He had come 
to Troy by invitation to deliver an address on abolitionism, and the 
church was that afternoon unusually crowded with men and wo- 
men. While addressing the audience he was disturbed in different 
Avays, and finally assaulted with missiles, the affair culminating in a 
fearful struggle, which at one time was attended with great danger 
to all the persons assembled in the building In the midst of the 
fray, Henry Z Hayner, Esq., a man of splendid physique and great 
strength, seized the ringleader of the mob, at the foot of the pulpit, 
and held him by the throat until he was black in the face He then 
took Theodore D. Weld by the arm and led him through the ex- 
cited, blaspheming rabble to a place of safety and escape. 

The dedication of the Liberty Street Presbyterian church is thus 
referred to in the Troy Budget of November 28th, 1834 ; 

"A building recently erected in this city for the use of the people 
of color, situated on the north side of Liberty street, was yesterday 
(Thursday, Nov. 27th,) dedicated to the service and worship of Al- 
mighty God. Several of the clergymen of this city were present, 
and took part in the exercises The Rev. Theodore S. Wright, of 
New York city, preached the dedication sermon from the text : 
Colossians 3 . 17. V/e understand that a day school for colored 
children, and an evening school for adults, will be commenced on 
Monday next by William Lively." 

The nucleus from which this congregation was formed, was organ- 
ized by the efforts of William Rich, Harvey Martin and Alexander 
Theuay. Hon. George Tibbits, Mayor of Troy, was much inter- 
ested in this enterprise, and secured for the congregation considera- 
ble assistance from the city authorities. The upper part of the 
building was used for worship, but no distinct church organization 
was effected until January 17, 1840, when the congregation assumed 
the name of Liberty Street Presbyterian Church. Rev. Nathan S. 
S. Beman, D. D , and Rev. Fayette Shipard, together with Thomas 
Jefferson, Prince Van Aller, Samuel Jefferson, John Caraseau, and 
Jacob Hogeboom, are mentioned as the organizers. The congre- 
gation consisted of about thirty members. Rev. Henry H. Garnett, 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. i '^ T^ 

a graduate of Oberlin, was called to the pastorship of the church, 
in which position he remained for more than seven years. On his 
departure the church had ninety communicants. 

The last public execution which took place in Troy and the County, 
occurred on the. fourteenth day of November, 1834. Thomas Harty 
was then hung for the murder of his wife, whom he killed with an 
axe while cooking. The condemned man with pinioned arms and 
guarded by the Troy Citizens' Corps, was marched to the music of 
the Portuguese hymn, from the jail on Ferry street to Fifth street, up 
Congress street, to the side of the Seminary hill, where the gallows 
were erected. An immense concourse had assembled to witness this 
execution, and occupied all the hill-side, house-tops and vantage- 
ground in the vicinity. 

The first execution in the County, and village of Troy, was that of 
Winslow Russell, for the murder of Michael Backus. He was tried 
before Hon. Ambrose Spencer, Justice of the Supreme Court of 
Judication of the State of New York, and was sentenced "to be 
hung on the 19th of July, 181 1, between the hours of 10 a. m. and 
5 p. M. of the clock," and "his body given to the physicians for des- 
section." The spot on which the gallows were erected for many 
years, was visible on the south side of Congress street opposite Eighth 
street. The solid rock had to be excavated to receive the lower 
work of the scaffold, and for a long time thereafter designated the 
place of execution. 

The United Presbyterian church, comprised principally of Scotch 
Presbyterians, was organized on the sixth day of February, 1834, in 
a school house on the south-east corner of State and Fourth streets. 
Rev. Peter Bullions, D. D., organized the church with sixteen mem- 
bers. The first ruling elders were Robert Cruikshank and William 
Brinckerhoff. In a wooden building on the east side of First, near 
Division street, the first services of the church were held May ist, 
1834. In 1836 a brick edifice was erected on Seventh street, be- 
tween State and Albany streets, which was dedicated Nov. 13th of 
that year. In the fire of 1862 this building was burned, and the 
congregation erected another brick edifice the same year on the east 
side of Fifth street, between State street and Broadway, in which 
the first opening services were held on the fifteenth of February, 
1863, and which were conducted by Rev. Dr. Peter Bullions, Rev. '' 
Dr. Kennedy and Rev. H. Robertson. Rev. Peter Bullions, D. D., 



174 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

was the first pastor of the congregation, and he continued in that 
relation from Dec. 28, 1836, to February 13, 1864. 

The rapid growth of the first Particular Baptist Churcn, and its 
large membership, induced a number of its members to organize a 
second Baptist Church in Troy. This was accomplished on the 4th 
of February, 1834, with a membership of sixty persons; Joshua 
Harpham, Lemuel Brintnall and Andrew Hemphill acting as dea- 
cons, and S. E. Gibbs, clerk. The congregation first worshiped in 
a small meeting house on First street, between Ferry and Division 
streets. In March they purchased the Universalist meeting house 
on Ferry street for ^7,000 and the vestry building adjoining for 
^1,000. In May, Rev. Ebenezer S. Raymond was called, and in 
July began his pastorship of the congregation. The church was 
re-organized Feb. 12th, 1S68, and on the 25th of May in the follow- 
ing year the corner-stone of the present brick church on Congress 
street, near the Stone bridge, was laid. On the second Sunday in 
March, 1870, the church was dedicated. Rev. Dr. George C. Bald- 
win, Rev. Dr. C. P. Sheldon, and Rev. W. T. C. Hanna participating 
in the services. 

The corner-stone of the present edifice of the First Presbyterian 

Church was laid on Thursday afternoon, April 23, 1835, at 

two o'clock. In the month of June, 1836, the church was 

finished and dedicated. The dedication sermon was preached by 

Rev. Edward N. Kirk, of Albany. 

On the thirtieth of August, 1835, the North Second Street Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church was dedicated by Bishop Hedding, assisted 
by Rev. Mr. Chichester, of Lansingburgh. The organizers of this 
church were Jesse Anthony, Thomas L. Ostrom, Independence 
Starks, Zina P. Eggleston, Eli Townsend, Lyman Bennett, Edwin 
Cleminshaw, and twelve other members of the State Street M. E. 
Church. Rev. S. D. Ferguson was the first pastor of the congrega- 
tion. 

The Universalist Church on Fifth street was dedicated on Friday, 
September nth, 1835. Rev. I. D. Williamson, of Albany, delivered 
a discourse on the occasion. 

A correspondent of the New York Commercial Advertiser thus 
describes a visit to Troy September 18, 1835 : 

" There is something remarkable in the character of the people. 
No matter where they come from, or what have been their previous 
habits, the moment they become residents of this place, they are 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



175 



Trojans. They not only look well to their own individual interests, 
but imbibe the same spirit of enterprise which they find prevailing, 
and unite as one man in sustaining the interests and advancing the 
prosperity of Troy. It is in fact a sort of community by itself — like 
Lubec or Hamburg, or any other of the free cities of the ancient 
Hanseatic league, belonging to the confederacy, it is true, but always 
minding the main chance for itself. Hence, when any project for 
the benefit of the town is started, so its feasibility is apparent, there 
are no bickerings, or jealousies, or rivalships, or long debates. The 
people go to work and do it. So if any other city or town in the 
vicinity commences an enterprise of its own, if by possibility it can 
conflict with the interests of Troy, or give her real or fancied rivals 
an advantage over it, the Trojans are awake in an instant, and some 
countervailing project is undertaken, or some original measure pro- 
jected, whereby they can rather more than sustain themselves in the 
race of competition. No sooner, for instance, had the steamboat 
monopoly been broken up by the Supreme Court, and Albany placed 
a line of steamboats upon the river of her own, than Troy did the 
same. When a railroad brought the valley of the Mohawk within 
an hours distance from Albany, Troy united herself with Vermont 
l)y the process of Macadam. The regency having succeeded in 
obtaining a national appropriation to improve the navigation of the 
overslaugh, and induced the ' last of the Romans ' to forget that he 
had vetoed the appropriation of the year before as unconstitutional, 
Troy manages to come in for a share, to be applied above the Capital 
of the Knickerbockers. And last, though not least, a railroad hav- 
ing in effect brought the Ballston and Saratoga health springs within 
two hours of Albany, another railroad brings the same fountains 
within an hour and a half of Troy. Nor do the people 'who go 
ahead ' in these matters always stop to calculate whether or not they 
are to make large dividends upon the stock of this or that enter- 
prise. They know and feel that ihcir interests are identified with 
those of the city, and in whatever way the latter is benefited, they 
readily perceive their own general advantage. The fruits of this 
policy, and the entire unanimity with which they act in regard to all 
matters of profit and loss, are at this time most evident in the flouf- 
ishing condition of the town. You doubtless recollect the residence • 
of the venerable Colonel Pawling, below the city, and the old brick * 
mansion of" the Vanderheydens, on the side hill above, at the north- 
east. The city is now compactly built in both directions, and along 



I 76 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

the river at the north a goodly distance beyond. The lowlands 
south of the city, extending down to the creek, and from tlie river 
back to the hill, are filling up after the manner of the recent im- 
provement of the Stuyvesant meadows in New York. It is but five 
or six years since a new Presbyterian Church swarmed forth from 
the old one, so long under the pastoral care of the late Dr. Coe, and 
latterly under the care of Dr. Beman. A new church was built so re- 
motely situated in the suburbs of the town, that I thought the people 
had made a fatal mistake in its location. To the charge of this church 
the Rev. Mark Tucker, D. D., was called from Northampton, and is 
most happily situated. But already has another division been made ; 
the excess of Dr. Tucker's charge have created a third church in a 
central position, over which the Rev. William D. Snodgrass, D. D., 
late of Murray street. New York, has been placed with great accep- 
tance to the people. Meantime, a second Episcopal church — a 
handsome edifice of stone — has been built ; a new and noble struc- 
ture of brick is now nearly completed for Dr. Beman ; the Metho- 
dists are building a second church ; the Baptists, I believe, have pur- 
chased the handsome church sometime since built by the Universal- 
ists ; and two Roman Catholic churches have been erected. Nor 
must I forget the new Court House, a marble temple of the Doric 
order, which would have done credit to the classic capitol of Attica 
itself. You doubtless recollect the delightful situation of the home 
of the venerable George Tibbits, quite in the country a few years 
since, east of the city, on a beautiful slope of Mount Ida. This has 
been invaded, and already a range of houses is looking down upon 
it from the elevation beyond, to say nothing of sundry large manu- 
facturing villages which have sprung into existence, in the ravines 
southwardly of the city, and out of sight of those who do not go in 
search of them. Two of these I have seen, and made a special 
visit to one — the Iron Works of Dr. Burden, and those of other pro- 
prietors, of various kinds, in the ravine about two miles south of 
the Court House, Dr. Burden is the same ingenious and scientific 
machinist who constructed the celebrated steamboat a year or two 
since upon a new principle, which he hoped to drive over the water 
at the rate of twenty-five or thirty miles an hour. His works at 
this place comprise one of a succession of iron manufactories, 
standing in a deep ravine upon a small stream which comes leaping 
down the mountain, the waters of which are gathered up at every 
successive plunge, to turn the wheels of another establishment, thus 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 177 

being used over and over again half a dozen times a day. Among 
other descriptions of machinery wliicla I examined, was Dr. Bur- 
den's recent ingenious contrivance for making horse shoes, sixty or 
seventy of which are turned out complete in a minute. Added to 
all which, saying nothing of mills and manufactories, in numbers, 
and in various directions, an ample supply of pure and v.liolesome 
water has been introduced from the mountain springs situate about 
a mile north-east of the pyramidal rocks of bituminous shale, on 
the Lansingburgh road, dignified long since by the name of Mount 
Olympus, The supply is abundant, and from the elevation of the 
land, it can be introduced into the' upper stories of the dwellings 
through the city. Several fountains are playing in public places, 
others in gentlemen's yards, and others still are to be introduced. 
Some two or three paragraphs back I spoke of a railroad from this 
city to the Springs. I likewise read a paragraph in the Commercial 
a few days ago, stating that the cars of this road had made the trip 
from Ballston to Waterford — twenty-two miles — in fifty-four minutes. 
This was doing very well ; but I had the pleasure of flying over the 
same space the other day in fifty minutes. The cars are of the 
most superb order, and run upon wheels of an improved description, 
being cast with a rim of wrought iron in the flange, so that to break 
them would seem to be impossible, or next to it. This road, you 
are probably aware, is not yet quite completed, but will be so in a 
few days, commencing at the Troy House, in the heart of the city, 
and terminating at Ballston — the charter, I believe, not permitting 
the company to extend it to Saratoga, It was originally intended 
that the Troy road should run along the eastern margin of the Hud- 
son, through Lansingburgh, crossing the river upon the old bridge 
at Waterford. Obstructions, however, of various kinds were thrown 
in the way of the company, and prices demanded for the use of the 
bridge — under the impression that the railroad must be carried 
across it and nowhere else, which induced the directors to change the 
route. The road has accordingly been constructed on the west side 
of the river, being carried by a succession of bridges from island 
to island across the delta of the Mohawk, until it arrives near the 
lower extremity of Tibbits' island, opposite the city of Troy. From 
thence it leaps the Hudson by one of the noblest bridges in the 
Union. This bridge is upwards ot sixteen hundred feet in length, 
resting upon eight massive piers of rough hewn stone. It has a 
draw of sixty feet, at the eastern end, for the accommodation of the 
23 



I 78 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

river craft of Lansingburgh and Waterford. Seventeen hundred 
thousand cubic feet of timber have been used in the construction of 
this bridge." 

On Tuesday, Oct. 6th, 1835, the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad 
was completed, and the trains crossed the bridge for the first time 
on that day. The fare from Troy to Ballston was $1.00, and to 
Saratoga Springs, $1.25. On the arrival of the cars at the west side 
of the Rensselaer & Saratoga bridge, the engine was detached and 
horses were substituted, which drew the trains across the bridge 
and down River street to the Troy House, the terminus of the road. 
The ticket office was then at No. 6 First street. 

The consummate skill with which the people of Troy managed 
all their local interests was especially exhibited in the several rail- 
road enterprises originated about this time for the benefit of the 
city. Heretofore, every attempt of the citizens of Albany to secure 
the trade of Northern and Western New York, Vermont and the 
adjacent country had been in some way opposed and frustrated by 
the people of Troy, or was divested of so much of its intended util- 
ity to Albany as to eventuate to the business interests of Troy. 
The opening of the side cut in the Erie Canal opposite the city, 
making it the principal outlet for all the boats plying between the 
Hudson river and the Western lakes, is relatively an exemplification 
of this tact and management of the people of Troy. After the com- 
pletion of the railroad between Albany, Schenectady, Ballston Spa 
and Saratoga Springs, Albany had secured, as was supposed, the 
long desired control of the northern trade. 

The first adroit movement made by the people of Troy, who had 
from the early part of the century strenuously opposed the building 
of a bridge across the Hudson river at Albany, and had continued 
this opposition with a pertinacity of argument and antagonism 
which annually delayed the construction of the proposed bridge, was 
the introduction of a clause into the bill incorporating the Troy & 
Ballston railroad, by which they secured the right to build bridges 
betweeii any of the places mentioned in the charter. The bill was 
passed, and the Albany people did not perceive the important 
clause until it was too late to oppose its enactment. This grant- 
ed the building of the Troy bridge across the Hudson, and at 
the same time made a way of escape from the illiberal exactions of 
the Union Bridge Company of Waterford and Lansingburgh The 
municipal triumph of Troy over Albany was the cause of various 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. I 79 

retaliatory acts, which in turn were intended to embarrass the travel 
and traffic of Troy When the road was completed from Troy to 
Ballston, the management of the Schenectady & Saratoga railroad 
refused permission to the Troy & Ballston company for the pas- 
sage of through freight over their branch road to Saratoga, and 
would not agree to any arrangements for the acceptance of through 
passenger tickets. Fortunately at this time a quantity of the stock 
of the Schenectady and Saratoga railroad, which had always been 
non-paying, came into the possession of a New York broker. A ' 
knowledge of this fact was given to Richard P. Hart, who immedi- 
ately, with other Troy merchants, purchased this stock and became 
controllers of the road. When a meeting was called, the Albany 
stockholders were in dismay at this unimagined position of affairs, 
which dispossessed them of the leading representation in the board 
of officers of the Schenectady & Saratoga railroad. By these suc- 
cessive steps, the people retained the control of the commerce and 
trade of northern New York. 

An act to incorporate the Troy & Stockbridge railroad was passed 
by the State Legislature May loth, 1836 The capital stock was 
placed at 600,000 shares at $50 each. The commissioners named 
in the bill were : Daniel Gardner, John E. Wool, Elam Tilden, 
Charles S. J. Goodrich, James Van Schoonhoven, Jonas C. Heartt, 
Ebenezer C. Barton, Henry W. Strong, Arthur Milliken, John D 
Willard and Philander Wells. 

The Lansingburgh and Troy railroad was chartered May 19th, 
1836. The capital stock was fixed at 40,000 shares at $50 each. 

The Schenectady and Troy railroad act was passed May 21st, 
1836. The stock was divided into 500,000 shares at $100 each. 
The commissioners named were : Samuel W. Jones, George Mc- 
Queen, Henry C. Yates, Archibald L. Linn, Harvey Davis and Ed- 
ward H. Walton, of the city of Schenectady ; Daniel Campbell, 
of the town of Rotterdam ; and Isaac McConihe, George R. Davis, 
Elias Pattison, John V. Fassett, David Buel, Jr., Abraham Van Tuyl 
and Anson Arnold. 

The Mechanics Mutual Insurance Company of Troy was incor- 
porated May 14, 1836. The officers were : Nathaniel Starbuck, 
President; Robert Christie, Vice President, John Wheeler, 
Treasurer ; David L. Seymour, Attorney ; and Lyman Gar- 
field, Secretary. 

This year the Troy India Rubber Company was formed, with a 



I So HISTORY OF TPIE CITY OF TROY. 

capital of $200,000. In May the factory in the lower part of the 
city was burned, and new buildings were erected immediately there- 
after. One hundred and twenty persons were employed in the man- 
ufacture of coats, caps, aprons and shoes. 

The members of the Common Council of 1836-37 took occasion 
to express their views regarding the use of liquors on New Year's 
day, by adopting the following preamble and resolutions • 

" Whereas, the usage of the late Mayor of this city, adopted on 
the advice of a former Common Council, declining to receive com- 
pany on the commencement of the year, is believed to be salutary 
in its tendency — 

" Resolved, That the Mayor be requested to conform to said usage 
on the approaching anniversary of the year. 

" Resolved, That in the interchange of the customary civilities, on 
the opening of the new year, we deem it inexpedient to place upon 
our tables either fermented or distilled liquors, as a part of our hos- 
pitality to our friends." 

Among the direful events connected with the history of Troy, the 
great land-slide at Mount Ida on Sunday evening, January ist, 1837, 
is quite prominent. The Troy Budget of Jan. 2d, thus describes 
the avalanche : 

" Early last Summer, many of our readers are aware, a large mass 
of clay burst from the hill on the east section of the first ward of 
this city, followed by a gushing stream of water, and doing no other 
injury than covering a large portion of ground at the base with the 
bowels of the hill. Last evening, about seven o'clock, a similar 
occurrence took place on the same spot, but we regret to say, greater 
in extent and exceedingly fatal in its consequences. An avalanche of 
clay came tumbling from an eminence of nearly five hundred feet, 
moving down the base of the hill to level land, and then continued 
from the impulse it received to the distance of about 800 feet, cov- 
ering up acres of ground, accompanied with a cataract of water and 
sand, which kept up a terrible roar. The mass moved along with 
great rapidity, carrying with it two stables and three dwelling houses 
and crushing them and their contents in thousands of pieces. The 
stables and horses were moved to a distance of over 200 feet into a 
hollow on the corner of Washington and Fourth streets. 

" In its way the avalanche also encountered a brick kiln, burying 
it partially over and cruinhling it together, from which a few min- 
utes after the flames rushed forth and lit up the city as with a great 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. l8l 

conflagration. This signal was the first intimation that was Jiad of 
the catastrophe to those not in the immediate vicinity. 

" The three dwelling houses destroyed were of light structure, 
one occupied by Mr. John Grace, another by Mrs. Leavensworth, 
and the third by Mrs Warner, the last of which was fortunately va- 
cant at the time of the calamity. In Grace's house was himself and 
wife and a little boy ; the two former were extricated from the ruins 
dead, and the boy was taken out alive, very little hurt, barefooted 
and bare-headed, the building having been shattered in a thousand 
pieces — which is undoubtedly one of the most singular escapes that 
ever came to our knowledge. There were four of Mrs. Leavens- 
worth's family in her house, herself and three children. Two of the 
children were in bed at the time and probably asleep, and were after- 
wards taken from the midst of the wreck dead, crushed almost to a 
jelly, and were undoubtedly thrown instantly from a natural sleep 
into the sleep of death. Mrs. Leavensworth was taken out shock- 
ingly bruised, and was barely alive when we last heard from her. 
Fortunately, three of the family were at church at the time and es- 
caped awful deaths. 

" The stables were owned by Mr. Bingham, in which were twenty- 
two horses, and all carried along with the mass, together with nine 
or ten dirt carts. Six horses were taken from the ruins alive, the 
other sixteen were killed. The dead bodies of the horses can this 
morning be seen mingled among the ruins. Mr. Bingham's loss 
must be considerable. 

" The clay is piled up in masses to the depth of from ten to forty 
feet over a large surface. It must have moved with great rapidity, 
and it is fortunate that it had not happened at the time when the 
laborers were employed in digging from the hill. At the time it was 
snowing freely, and this morning the scene was entirely covered with 
a white veil. 

" The scene that presented itself in the early part of the evening 
was awful in the highest degree. The horrors of an earthquake 
could not have presented a more dreadful spectacle. In the midst 
of a mass of convulsed earth, a multitude of human beings were 
moving to and fro, some carrying torches, and others digging among 
the ruins, and dragging from the midst the remains of some lifeless 
body, or were rescuing some one in whom life had not yet become 
extinct. Some were crying 'ho! ropes, ropes!' 'help!' 'shovels!' 
while the scene was dimly illuminated by the flames from the burn- 



I 82 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

ing brick kiln, which is still smouldering like an almost extinct vol- 
cano. The scene must have been witnessed to be realized — we can 
give but a faint description of it. 

" Five large trees were precipitated from the hill, some of which 
are now standing erect at the bottom, and others in a slightly in- 
clined posture. The whole is considered a singular phenomena, 
and its immediate cause is the question of much speculation." 

The same paper on the Friday following, gives these additional 
details : 

" There were only four dead bodies found ; John Grace, aged 57 ; 
Hannah Grace, aged about 40 ; Isaac Leavensworth, aged 8, and 
Seaman Leavensworth, aged 4. Appropriate funeral services took 
place over the four bodies in the Baptist church, yesterday afternoon 
(January 5th,) and they were accompanied to the burying ground 
by a large concourse of citizens." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

From the Mob on St. Patrick's Day to the Second Large Fire. 1837 
TO 1854. 

The first public disturbance which broke the peace of the city of 
Troy, occurred on Saint Patrick's day in the year 1837. It was 
thus described : " On Friday, March 17th, being St. Patrick's day, 
a festival day, held in great reverence by the Irish Catholics 
throughout the world, — some boys suspended, in different 
sections of the city, effigies of the tutelar saint, for the purpose of 
ridiculing the peculiar notions of the Irish citizens, and exciting 
their feelings. We will remark here, that had the police' officers 
done their duty in the morning, and apprehended every person en- 
gaged in this foolish business, our city would not have been the the- 
ater of so much discord and alarm. The affray commenced about 
ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the foot of Ferry street, where one 
of these images was placed a little from the shore. An Irish labor- 
er attempted to pull it down, but some boys and men commenced 
shouting and drove him away. Shortly after he returned in com- 
pany with others, when a second attempt was made to remove the 
image, and a scuffle ensued in which a man by the name of John 
Foster was knocked down and badly bruised. The crowd began to 
assume a fearful aspect, hundreds having collected, and stones were 
flying in every direction, and Mr. John P. Cole was attacked and 
maimed in a shocking manner. The mob then proceeded up Ferry 
street, and near Third street knocked down and beat another man 
in a horrible manner. At the intersection of these streets an at- 
tack was made upon Mr. Valleau's store, and the building was badly 
injured. The Mayor, Hon. Richard P. Hart, the Recorder of the 
city, and members of the Common Council, repaired to the scene of 
disorder and ordered the rioters to disperse, which was partially 
obeyed. 

" Shortly afterward, the store of Mr. Felton, corner of Ferry and 
Fourth streets, was attacked and nearly every door and window 
was demolished. At this juncture, being near noon, the Citizens' 
Corps was ordered under arms by the Mayor. The mob again con- 



184 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

centrated in the vicinity of Ferry and Fifth streets, and some per- 
sons were attacked and injured, and arrests were made of several 
of the rioters, who were carried to jail. The Rev. Mr. Shanahan, a 
priest, made his appearance and earnestly exhorted his Irish fellow- 
citizens to disperse and peaceably retire to their homes. It had a 
salutary effect, and the greater part of the crowd dispersed. 

" In the evening again the mob collected on the louver part of 
Fifth street, below Ferry. Stones were thrown from the top of a 
house in the vicinity, and several guns were discharged in the doors 
and windows facing upon the street. Mr. William Wallace, while 
eating supper with his sister, was shot in the face and mortally 
wounded. A girl named Eliza Clohesy was shot in the eye, which 
she will have to lose. William Rodgers and John Maloney were 
also wounded. The windows and doors of six buildings were de- 
molished, and the furniture within greatly damaged. Joseph Grimes 
standing on Hill street, near Division, was shot in the groin, and 
died several days afterward. Many other persons were attacked 
and wounded during the day. About twenty of the ringleaders 
were apprehended and committed to jail. The appearance of the 
Citizens' Corps had a great effect upon the mob, and they generally 
retired upon its appearance. The Mayor issued a proclamation, 
calling upon all persons having knowledge of the authors of such 
crimes and disorders, their aiders and abettors, to appear and give 
evidence before the Grand Jury, then in session, to the end that 
all offenders might be brought to condign punishment." 

The years of 1835-36, which were famous for speculation in " pa- 
per cities" and "corner lots," was followed in 1837 by a general 
stagnation in trade and manufacturing. An editorial in the Troy 
Budget of March 28, 1837, thus refers to its effects in Troy : 

" The commercial community are now being visited with one of 
the evils of a mad spirit of speculation and overtrading that has pre- 
vailed for some years past. The spirit of man has been restless to 
confine his operations to the vicinity of his own homestead and 
reap a respectable, if not an independent living ; but he has gone 
forth in the western wilds and looked over the rugged surface of the 
hills and the smooth plains of the prairies, he has conceived in his 
imagination villages, towns, cities and nations in embryo, and has 
applied all the means he could acquire to purchase and become in 
possession of one or more of these ' castles in the air ' that he might 
in future be a prince in riches, if not of a people. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. I 85 

" The failures of the million men that for a few days past have 
alarmed and astounded the community, although serious to the in- 
dividuals concerned, the world at large \\ill have little cause to re- 
gret them." 

In May the Banks throughout the country suspended specie pay- 
ments, and those in Troy were compelled to follow their example. 
To meet the wants of the community, notes (shinplasters) of small 
denominational values were again issued by the city. The twelve 
and a half cent notes had on the left side a vignette of a woman 
floating in the sea, above which were the figures "12^," and below 
the word "cents." On the right side, in the upper corner, was the 
representation of a Spanish shilling, surrounded by the words, 
twelve and a half cents, and beneath it a Cupid bearing flowers. 
The centre figure of the bill was a picture of a four-pipe Troy 
steamboat, and underneath it the following note form : 

" On demand I promise to pay twelve and a half cents to the 
bearer, in New York Safety Fund bills, on the presentation of Five 
Dollars at my office. Troy, July 4th, 1837. 

J. A. Zander." 

The congregation of the Disciples' Church was organized on the 
fourteenth of May, 1837. One of the originators was Benjamin 
Reed. In 1838, Benjamin Reed and Joseph W. Ager were chosen 
elders. The first meetings of this congregation were held in the 
Fourth street session house, and wer^ continued in this building for 
two years, after which they were held in the old Academy on the 
corner of Fourth and State streets. AVhen the congregation next 
removed, it was to No. 229 North Second street. In 1843, Benja- 
min Reed resigned his pastorship, and subsequently Joseph W. 
Ager. After suitable preparation. Dexter Moody and E. T. Wood 
were appointed Elders, and C. Williamson and William Lockwood, 
Deacons. 

On the tenth of May, 1838, the corner-stone of Christ church 
was laid by Right Rev. Bishop B. T. Onderdonk, assisted 
by Rev. William F. Walker, the Rector of the church. 
The Church originated in a Sunday School, organized in May, 1836, 
in the house of Josiah Boughton, and the Sunday School was com- 
menced in the rooms of a Female Seminary kept by Mrs. Maria 
Richards, in a building on the corner of North Second and Jacob 
streets. Col. W. T. Willard was superintendent. The Church was 
orga.nized Dec. 3, 1836, the first service having been held in the 
24 



I 86 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

latter place in November, by Rev. William F. Walker. The follow- 
ing persons, on its incorporation, were elected church ofificers : Elias 
Lasell and William Osborne, Wardens ; and William Heart, Stephen 
Broughton, Ralph B. Roberts, Richard S. Bryans, William Gary, 
Thomas Grenell, Josiah Boughton, and Samuel Dauchy, Vestrymen. 
On Saturday, June i, 1839, Christ church was consecrated by the 
Right Rev. Bishop Onderdonk. 

The Commercial Bank was organized under the general banking 
law of the State, and began business at No. ^i Washington Square. 
The first officers were : R. D. Silliman, President ; S. W. Dana, 
Vice President ; J. D. Willard, Attorney, and F. Leake, Cashier. 

The Banks which had been organized under the general banking 
law of the State, were known, about this time, as Red Dog Banks ; 
the appellation being derived from the color upon the back of the 
bills issued by them. 

On Saturday, August loth, 1839, Martin Van Buren, President of 

the United States, visited Troy and was received in the 

park, and on the part of the citizens. Job Pierson tendered 

him a welcome to the city. He remained until Monday, when he 

returned to Saratoga. 

The new steamboat Troy made its first trip from New York to 
Troy on the seventeenth of July, 1840. The length of the 
boat was 294 feet, breadth 61 feet, and cost $100,000. A. 
Gorham Avas her first captain. 

A steel pen manufactory was establiejied in the city, this year, by 
Zander & Johnson. 

On Saturday evening, November 14, and on Monday following, 
two more land-slides occurred at Mount Ida. The first demolished 
a small house, from which the inmates escaped unhurt. 

The population of Troy in 1840 was 19,334. an increase of 2,375 
in five years. 

The Fulton Market house was opened in the latter part of the 
month of May, 1841. The building cost about $30,000, 
exclusive of ground. 

The enterprise of some of the Troy manufacturers was requited 
by orders from the most distant places. In May of this year Eaton 
& Gilbert received orders from Mexico for seven of their coaches 
for various stage routes in that country. These were marked, " Dil- 
igencias Generales." The coaches of the manufacturers were run- 
ning in every State of the Union, besides in Mexico, Yucatan and 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 1 87 

Nova Scotia. In October they erected a brick building one hun- 
dred and twenty feet long by fifty wide, on Sixth street, for the man- 
ufacture of railway coaches. 

The first Express company establishing an office in Troy was that 
of Harnden & Co., in July, 1841. The several routes were to Alba- 
ny, Boston, New York city and Philadelphia. Jacobs' Express be- 
tween Troy and Canada was established in 1842. 

On Monday, July 19th, the new board of directors of the Sche- 
nectady & Troy railroad met and elected the following officers : 
Benjamin Marshall, President; William D. Haight, Vice President; 
and Nathan S. Hollister, Commissioner. James Wallace was ap- 
pointed agent ; Isaac McConihe, Secretary, and James Laurie, Chief 
Engineer. Trains began running to Troy about the first of Novem- 
ber, 1842. It was built by the city, the corporation issuing its bonds 
at seven, six and five and one-half per cent, interest, to the amount 
of ^649,142. The building of this road began in 1840. 

A salmon weighing eight pounds was taken in a seine from the 
river opposite the city in the month of August. 

It was customary for the election polls during the State elections, 
to be open for three successive days. They were opened at 10 a. m., 
and closed at 2 p. m. 

The African Methodist Episcopal congregation purchased a lot 
and building on Fifth street in the fall of this year. The building 
was altered into a place of worship. 

Another terrible disaster, by which many lives were lost, and 
houses destroyed, occurred again in the vicinity of Mount Ida in 
the year 1843. The Troy Daily Whig of the eighteenth of February, 
1843, thus details the calamity : 

" On Friday afternoon (February 17th, 1843,) at half-past three 
o'clock, a portion of the hill east of the city slid off and overwhelm- 
ed nine houses ; all of them, with one exception, occupied by fami- 
lies. At the time of the slide, several men with teams were engaged 
at the bottom of the bank, carrying off" earth ; and narrow- 
ly escaped with their lives. Not so, however, the unfor- 
tunate inmates of the dwellings, nearly all of whom were buried 
under the mass of clay, which covered their houses in several in- 
stances to the depth of five or six feet — crushing some to atoms, and 
removing others bodily for the space of several yards. 

The distance from the commencement of the slide to the outer 
edge of the deposit of earth which it left, is not far from 200 yards, 



I 88 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

the earth having been carried more than five hundred feet over a 
dead level after it reached the bottom of the hill. The soil being a 
remarkably unctuous blue clay, is doubtless the cause of the extra- 
ordinary space which the slide covered. The slide commenced 
about one hundred yards east of Fifth street, and its southern ex- 
tremity first encountered two houses adjoining each other on the 
east side of the street, both of which it destroyed. 

"The center of the slide was then precipitated on the head of 
Washington street, overwhelming the buildings on both sides of said 
street, with the exception of one corner of Washington and Hill 
streets, which was partially destroyed. The number of houses des- 
troyed on Washington street was eight. The slide passed down 
Washington to Hill street, which it crossed and proceeded a few 
yards beyond it. 

" The names of the occupants of the houses destroyed, as far 
as we can ascertain them at present, are as follows : Daniel E. Day, 
ship carpenter, Robert Henry, contractor. Fifth street, below Wash- 
ington street ; William Brazell, teamster, Washington, corner of 
Fifth ; William H. Kilfoile, teamster, Washington ; Zebulon P. Bird- 
sail, painter, Washington ; William Purdy, mason, corner Hill and 
Washington, house partially destroyed; Charles Dumbleton, i8 Hill 
street. 

" As soon as the alarm was given, the Mayor and members of the 
Common Council, the Sheriff of the county, together with the city 
police force, firemen, and hook and ladder companies, repaired to 
the spot, accompanied by a vast concourse of citizens. Vigorous 
preparations were immediately commenced for removing the earth 
above the ruins of the houses which were overwhelmed, and before 
the lapse of an hour, several persons were taken out alive, and the 
bodies of several others in which life was extinct. The work of 
excavating was prosecuted without intermission for several hours, 
and the following dead bodies taken out according to a list prepared 
by order of the Common Council : 

" Mrs. Matthew Grennan and child ; Mrs. William Brazell and 
two children ; Michael Dunn ; Thomas Keely and wife ; Edward 
Dumbleton, a lad ; a child of James Caldwell ; two children of 
Daniel E. Day; Mrs. Ann Wilber; a child of Mrs Gardner; Miss 
Jane Sanford. 

" The following is the condition of those rescued : Mrs. Susan Gor- 
duer and her sisdter Maria Deneker, badly bruised ; Mrs. Rosa John- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. J 89 

son, badly bruised, her liusband is absent, and she is helpless; Mrs. 
Mary Dunn, an aged woman, badly bruised, recovery doubtful , 
James Barnett and wife, slightly injured, what property they had 
was destroyed ; R. Pattison and four children were more or less 
injured, an arm broken and feet frozen; Jane McCollum, injured. 

" The scenes which occurred during the exhumation of the living 
and dead defy all description. 

"We are informed that the owner of the land on which the slide 
occurred had frequently forbidden persons taking away the earth 
from the hill, being fearful of a catastrophe like that which happen- 
ed. But his orders were disregarded, and the consequence has 
been the loss of life to fifteen human beings, and the destruction of 
a large amount of property. The Common Council have acted 
promptly for the relief of the sufferers, and at a special meeting last 
evening at nine o'clock, on the call of the Mayor, committees were 
appointed to provide medical attendance and relief." 

On the third of June, 1842, Rev. Peter Havermans, the venerable 
pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, entered upon his mis- 
sion in Troy. He then became the successor of Rev. Father Shan- 
ahan, who had charge of the congregation of St. Peter's Church. 
In 1844, Rev. Father Havermans severed his connection with St. 
Peter's church, which was then out of debt, to give his undivided 
attention to the interests of St. Mary's church. On June 29th, 1843, 
the corner-stone of St. Mary's church was laid. A procession con- 
sisting of several thousands of the Roman Catholics of the city and 
vicinity, including 1,100 scholars of the Sunday School of St. Peter's 
church, was formed at the church at 2 p. m., and marched through 
River and Second streets, to the site of St. Mary's church, on the 
north-east corner of Washington and Third streets. The Very 
Rev. Dr. Power, Vicar General, Rev. Dr. Schneller, Rev. Dr. New- 
ell, Rev. Mr. McDonough, of Albany, Rev. Peter Havermans, of St. 
Peter's church. Rev. Mr. Quinn, of West Troy, and several other 
Roman Catholic clergymen from the river towns were present. The 
Very Rev. Dr. Power addressed the large audience from the text, 
John 4 : 24. The occasion was made very impressive by the various 
exercises of the church, and the ceremonies were very interesting to 
the large concourse of assembled people. The grounds on which 
the church was built were purchased of Francis N. Mann. Great 
opposition was made by the residents of the neighborhood to the erec- 
tion of this church, who were apprehensive that its location would 



190 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

injure the value of the property in the vicinity. To the membership 
of the church it became a great benefit, for temperance, frugaHty, 
and thrift are in a great measure the distinguishing characteristics of 
the congregation. On Sunday, June 30th, 1844, the church was 
consecrated by the Right Rev. Dr. McCloskey, Rev. Peter Haver- 
mans, the pastor. Revs. Conroy, Farley, and other priests partici- 
pating. 

The North Baptist Church was organized June 6th, 1843, by 
members from the first Particular Baptist Church. The first Trus- 
tees elected were Gilbert Geer, Isaac Wellington, Joseph C. Taylor, 
Otis G. Clark, Harvey Smith, Elias Johnson, Evert Ostrander and 
Abram A. Wemple. While the church was being built on the south- 
east corner of Fifth and Elbow (Fulton) streets, services were held 
in the session house on Fourth street. Rev. Leland Howard was 
the first pastor of the congregation. The corner-stone of the church 
was laid on the nth of September, 1843. The exercises were: 
singing by the choir; prayer by Rev. Mr. Haskin, of West Troy. 
Rev. Dr. Snodgrass delivered an appropriate address, as did also 
Rev. Mr. Lovell, of the First Baptist church. The closing prayer 
was made by Rev. Mr. Sherman, of the North Second Street M. 
E. church, followed by an address and benediction by Rev. Dr. 
Welsh, of Albany. The edifice was dedicated May 23d, 1844. 
This brick building, costing $15,000, was destroyed by fire on the 
twenty-eighth of October, 1S52. 

Among the noted manufacturers of Troy in the year 1843, Isaac 
Hillman, a maker of razor strops at No. 1S8 Congress street, had 
attained a wide celebrity. John Smith, the noted street razor strop 
man, who established a name in almost every country town in the 
United States, and secured an ample competence, obtained all of 
his strops from this Troy establishment. 

On the 19th of September, Hon. Daniel Webster visited Troy. 
He came from New York city, and made only a brief stay. 

A type-setting machine was thus referred to as an invention of a 
citizen of Troy, in December, 1843 : " J. V. Ford, of this city, has 
been engaged for several years in bringing to perfection a type- 
setting and a distributing machine of his own invention, which he 
has at length completed. The machine is operated by means of 
keys moving like the keys of a piano-forte — the movement of each 
key depositing the required letter in its proper place. It will set 
180 type in a minute. Mr. Ford will carry the machine to New 



HISTORY OF Tin: CITY OF TROY. 19I 

York, for the purpose of submitting it to the inspection of those 
who feel an interest in an imi)roved system of labor saving." 

As early as the year 1832 the construction of a railroad between 
the city of New York and Troy was contemplated. A bill was 
passed by the Legislature the seventeenth day of April, 1832, to 
incorporate " The New York & Albany Rail Road Company." 
Among the persons mentioned in the charter were John P. Cushman 
and Townsend McCoun. The road was to be built from the junc- 
tion of the Fourth avenue and the Harlacm river on the island of 
New York to a point opposite or near the city of Albany, " with 
power to continue and extend the same to the city of Troy." 

From some unknown cause, the building of a railroad from New 
York to Albany was delayed until a later period. However, under 
this act, the northern extension of the road from Albany to Troy- 
was undertaken, and a track laid in the years 1840-41. It was pro- 
posed at this time to make this road to intersect at Greenbush with 
the West Stockbridge road, by which Troy would have a direct rail- 
road connection with Boston, and, via the Housatonic, with New 
York. This project of the people of Troy was for a time thwarted • 
by the passage of an Act by the Legislature, whereby this section of 
the road was not allowed to be put into operation, nor cars to run 
upon it, until two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in addition to 
the moneys already expended, were actually laid out on the line of 
New York & Albany railroad, south of the north line of the coun- 
ty of Columbia. By the enactment of this law on the nth of April, 
1842, the people of Albany hindered for several years the use of 
the road from Troy to Greenbush, to obtain assistance to help them 
in the construction of a line of railroad particularly their own. 

In February, 1844, the following persons were elected directors 
of the northern extension of the New York & Albany railroad : 
Stephen W. Dana, Le Grand Cannon, Jonas C. Heartt, Thaddeus 
B. Bigelow, Horatio Averill, John L. Thompson, and Alsop Weed, 
of Troy ; William P. Van Rensselaer, Greenbush ; Samuel Dana, 
Isaac Livermore, Pliny Cutler and Benjamin Reed, of Boston. 
Stephen W. Dana was chosen President, Jonas C. Heartt, Vice 
President, and Thaddeus B. Bigelow, Secretary. This association of 
officers of the northern branch road, was organized under a lease 
from the New York & Albany railroad company, bearing date the 
seventh day of February, 1844. During the interval of this embar- 
rassed condition of the Troy section, a line of steamers was estab- 



192 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

lished between Troy and Greenbush, by which passengers and 
freight were conveyed to and from the railroad depots of the two 
places. 

In the following year, the demands of the railroad act being com- 
plied with, the Troy people secured the passage of the act of May 
nth, 1845, to incorporate the Troy & Greenbush Railroad. On the 
twelfth day of June, 1845, the first trains began running upon this 
road. According to the charter, the road extended from Washing- 
ton street in the city of Troy, where it intersected the track of the 
Schenectady & Troy railroad, to the town of Greenbush, where it 
connected with the track of the Albany & West Stockbridge rail- 
road. On its completion the trains were drawn by locomotives up 
through River street to the intersection of King and River streets, 
where the depot was situated — now the location of the Manufactur- 
ers' Bank. 

The offices of the different railroads and steamboat lines were all 
centrally situated. The office of the Rensselaer & Saratoga railroad 
was at No. 7 First street, where the Troy Athenaeum building is at 
present erected. The Schenectady & Troy, and the Troy & Bos- 
ton railroad offices, together with the offices of the Troy & New 
York Steamboat association, were at No. 199 River street, now the 
south building of the drug and chemical warehouses of Robinson & 
Church. A long passage extended from River street through this 
building to the rear of it, where flights of steps with several broad 
landings descended to the dock below. Through this hall, and by 
these stairs, travellers passed to River street, or to the steamboats at 
the wharf. In front of the building the cars of the different rail- 
roads received and landed passengers. 

On the day line of boats from Troy to New York were the steam- 
boats Empire and Troy, and on the night line the Albany and Swal- 
low. On the hourly line between Troy and Albany were the boats 
John Mason and Jonas C Heartt, After the establishment of these 
different lines of railroads and steamboats, great numbers of travel- 
ers passed through Troy, or made it a favorite stopping place on 
their summer tours through northern New York. The Troy House, 
kept by Coleman & Rogers, was the customary place of sojourn of 
southern planters and their families on their way to Saratoga Springs. 
The Mansion House, of which E. & W. Dorlon were proprietors, 
had also an excellent reputation. 

The oldest, most revered and amiable of Troy's distinguished pas- 



HISTORY OV THE CITY OF TROY 



193 



tors at the present time is Rev. Dr. George C. Baldwin, of the first 
Particular Baptist Church. He was called to the i)aslor- 
ship of this church in the summer of 1S44, and has almost 
uninterruptedly served his congregation through a period of almost 
thirty-two years. The present large membership of his church, the 
commendable zeal of the people, and the several other Baptist con- 
gregations which are the issue of this church, are among a few of 
the blessings which have crowned and rewarded his labors 

The Church of the Holy Cross stands fourth in the order of time 
among the Episcopal churches of this city. This mission church 
had its origin in a Saturday sewing school begun about the year 
1815, by Mrs. Phcebe Warren, wife of Eliakim Warren, the first sen- 
ior Warden of St. Paul's church. After the death of Mrs. Phoebe 
Warren, in 1835, the school was continued by her daughter-in-law, 
]Mrs. Mary Warren, wife of Nathan Warren. To the mind of this 
pious woman the idea of erecting a free church was suggested, which 
by her was shortly embodied, in a determination to build an edifice 
the doors of which were to be open, and its privileges free to all. 
Pier generous design met with the hearty approval of her pastor, the 
Rev. Dr. R. B. Van Kleeck,'then Rector of St. Paul's church. The 
Bishop's consent having been obtained, the corner-stone of the pro- 
posed mission church was laid on St. Mark's day, April 25th, 1844. 

At the laying of the corner-stone in the afternoon of this day, an 
address was delivered by the Rev. Robert B. Van Kleeck. The 
choral parts of the service on this occasion were performed by 
the children of the charity school sustained by Mrs. Mary Warren. 
The following distinguished clergymen were present, some of whom 
participated in the services of the day : the Right Rev. Bishop On- 
derdonk, who laid the corner-stone; Rev. Horatio Potter, D. 'D. ; 
Rev. William I. Kipp, of Albany ; Rev. Kendrick Metcalf, of Du- 
anesburg ; Rev. P. Teller Babbit, Rev. John Williams, Rev. Maun- 
scU Van Rensselaer, Rev. Alva T. Twing, Rev. W. H. A. Bissell, 
Rev. Richard Cox, Rev. William H. Hickox, Rev. R. B. Fairbairn, 
and Rev. Edward Selkirk. A leaden box was deposited in the corner- 
stone containing a Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, and had 
engraved upon it the following inscription : " The Church of the 
Holy Cross was founded in the year of grace 1844, by Mary Warren 
as a house of prayer for all people, without money and without price. 
Glory be the Father, and tc the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. 
Amen " 
25 



194 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

The church, though opened for the celebration of divine service 
on Christmas day, 1844, by reason of the pecuHar circumstances of 
the diocese, was not consecrated until Dec. 6th, 1848. The Right 
Rev. Wm. RoUinson Whittingham, of Maryland, who was performing 
episcopal duty in the diocese at the time, consecrated it. 

" The clergy, members of the vestries of the neighboring churches, 
and other churchmen, met at the room of the school supported by 
the liberality of Mrs. Mary Warren, and thence walked in proces- 
sion to the church. On arriving at the door, the prescribed conse- 
cration service was begun by the Bishop, the clergy aiding in the re- 
sponse and other parts assigned them. The Instrument of Dona- 
tion was presented to the Bishop by Ste^Dhen E. Warren, Esq., and 
read by the Rev. John Ireland Tucker, the minister of the church. 
The sentence of Consecration was read by the Rev. Benjamin I. 
Haight, D. D., Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pulpit Eloquence 
in the General Theological Seminary. 

*' The act of consecration having been completed. Rev. R. B. 
Van Kleeck, Rector of St. Paul's church, Troy, commenced the 
morning service ; the first lesson was read by the Rev. Samuel L. 
Southard, Rector of Calvary church. New York, and the second by 
the Rev. Richard Cox, Rector of Zion church, New York. 

" The intoning of the service commenced with the Versicles after 
the Lord's Prayer, according to the use of Westminster Abbey, the 
Rev. John Ireland Tucker, officiating. The Proper Psalms were 
chanted antiphonally. Tlie Litany was chanted by Rev. Messrs. 
Tucker and Shackelford, the choir making the responses, accom- 
panied by the organ. 

" In the ante-communion service, the Rev. Reuben Hubbard, 
Rec'tor of St. Stephen's church, Schuylerville, Saratoga county, read 
the Epistle, and the Bishop the Gospel. Bishop Whittingham 
preached a sermon, the great object of which was to vindicate the 
practice of consecrating edifices to the worship of Almighty God." 

On the ensuing morning, (Thursday, Dec. 7 th,) at the Church of 
the Holy Cross, the Bishop admitted to the priesthood the Rev. 
John Ireland Tucker. Under the able ministry of Rev. Dr. Tucker, 
the church has for almost twenty-eight years fulfilled the mission 
designed for it by its founder. In 1846, a special act of incorpo- 
ration was obtained from the Legislature for the church, which had 
previously been known as the "Warren Free Institute." 

The altar-piece " The Taking Down from the Cross," was painted 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 1 95 

and presented to the church by Prof. R. W. Wier, of West Point. 
The windows, the chimes, the organ, and the land upon which the 
buildings are erected, are the gifts of the children of the founder. 
During the war, the clock was presented to the church by Major 
General Schriver, the son-in-law of Mrs. Warren. 

During the years 1842-43, the congregation of the North Second 
Street Methodist church was greatly disturbed by the ministrations 
of Rev. Merritt Bates. Besides introducing the subject of aboli- 
tionism into the pulpit, he was neglectful of his proper work, which 
soon caused dissatisfaction among the members and threatened the 
peace and unity of the church. Although tried before the Confer- 
ence for misconduct, he was not found guilty of the charges, but 
was assigned to a charge at Rensselaerville, Albany Co., which he 
soon resigned, and severed his connection with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. With a number of his friends in the North Second 
Street church, wlio left that congregation, he formed a new body in 
the year 1S44, and adoi)ted the name of the True Wesleyan Metho- 
dist Church, of Troy. The church of this congregation was a 
wooden building on the east side of Federal street, between River 
and North Second streets. The congregation Avas in a few years 
broken up, and its members returned to their former connection in 
the Methodist churches of the city. 

The situations of the different churches, and their pastors, in 
1844, were as follows : 

First Presbyterian church. First street, between Congress and Fer- 
ry streets. Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman. 

Second Presbyterian church, Sixth street, corner of Grand Divi- 
sion. Rev. C. Wadsworth. 

Second Street Presbyterian church, between Congress and Ferry. 
Rev. E. W. Andrews. 

Fourth Presbyterian church, Elbow street, corner of Fifth. Rev. 
S. G. Specs. 

Scotch Presbyterian church, Seventh street, between Albany and 
State streets. Rev. Peter Bullions. 

Liberty Street Presbyterian church (colored,) Liberty street, be- 
tween Third and Fourth streets. Rev. H. H. Garnett. 

Congregational church, Seventh street, between Albany and State 
streets. Rev. Fayette Shipard. 

Dutch Reformed church, Fourth street, between State and Alba- 
ny streets. Rev. R. Wells. 



196 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

St. Paul's Episcopal church, corner of State and Third streets. 
Rev. R. B. Van Kleeck. 

St. John's church, corner of- Third and Congress streets. Rev. 
R. Cox. 

Christ church, North Second street, between Federal and Jacob 
street. Rev. R. B. Fairbairn. 

Church of the Holy Cross, Eighth street, head of Grand Division 
street. Rev. J. Ireland Tucker. 

First Baptist church. Third street, between Congress and State. 
Rev. George C. Baldwin. 

Second Baptist church. Ferry street, between First and Second 
streets. 

North Baptist church, corner Fifth and Elbow streets. Rev. L. 
Howard. 

The Disciples worshiped in a building No. 221 North Second 
street, above Hoosick, known as Moody's church 

St. Peter's Roman Catholic church. North Second street, corner 
of Hutton street. Rev. Francis Donohue. 

St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, corner Washington and Third 
streets. Rev. Peter Havermans. 

State Street Methodist Episcopal church, between Fourth and 
Fifth streets. Rev. J. Covell. 

North Second Street Methodist Episcopal church, corner North 
Second and Jacob streets. Rev. S. L. Stillman, 1845. 

Zion Methodist (colored,) Fifth street, near Liberty. Rev. R. 
Noyes. 

True Wesleyan Methodist church, Federal street, between North 
Second and River streets. Rev. M. Bates. 

An Act to incorporate the Troy Gas Light Company was applied 
for in January, 1845. The directors named in the bill were Stephen 
Warren, David Buel, Daniel Southwick, Amos S. Perry, 
^ '^^' Philander Wells, George F. Lee, and Joseph Battin. The 
two latter, Lee and Battin, were manufacturers of gas in Philadel- 
phia, and were to take a large amount of the stock should the com- 
pany be organized The Troy Gaslight Company was not charter- 
ed until Feb. i6th, 1848. The organization was effected March 15, 
1848. The first officers, elected April 5th, 1848, were: Daniel 
Southwick, President ; Jonas C. Heartt, John A. Griswold, William 
Samuel Sands, J. T. McCoun, E. Thompson Gale, George B. War- 
ren, Charles Dauchy, and Lemuel H. Davis, Directors. Tlie com- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 1 97 

pany began operations in October, 1848. The capital stock was 
placed at ^^100,000, of which $11,000 was taken by the citizens of 
Troy, and the remainder by the Philadelphia manufacturers. In 
April, 1850, five miles of mains had been laid, sixty-one street 
lamps, and thirty-two private residences, together with several 
churches, were lighted with gas. 

From statistics it appears that in the season of 1844, the number 
of vessels trading to and from Troy, and running on the river during 
the season of navigation, was : 

8 Passenger steamers, owned in Troy, of 4,028 tons. 

10 Towing " " " 2,775 " 

24 Freight Barges, 7,256 " 

77 Masted Vessels, 6,253 " 



119 20,312 

In the year 1845, two murderers suffered the penalty of the law. 
On Tuesday afternoon, January 2Sth, William Miller, a German, was 
hung in the hall of the upper story of the jail, in the presence of 
the Sheriff and about fifty citizens, for the murder of George West, 
a German, in Sandlake. 

Henry G. Green, twenty-two years old, convicted of the murder 
of his wife by poison, was executed in the jail on Wednesday, 
September loth, at 4 o'clock, p. m. 

Mathematical and philosophical instruments were manufactured 
in Troy at this early day, by Phelps & Gurley, 319 River street, five 
doors below Washington Hall. From this establishment originated 
the present extensive manufactory of civil engineers' and surveyors' 
instruments of W. & L. E. Gurley. 

The night boat Swallow from Troy to New York, on Monday 
night, April 7th, at eight o'clock, struck a ledge of rocks opposite 
Hudson, a short distance north of the village of Athens. The 
scene on board the steamboat, when she struck, is thus described by 
one of the passengers : " At the first severe shock, the passengers 
rushed below, but their fears were calmed for a moment by the out- 
cry that we had only come in contact with a raft. But our ears 
were speedily assailed by the appaling sounds of the rending of 
timbers and the evident destruction of the boat, while the stern 
settled with frightful rapidity. Those who had retired in the after 
cabin had barely time to leap from their berths before the water was 
upon them. You can imagine the horrors of the scene at this mo- 



198 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

ment, when more than three hundred souls were thus exposed, in 
the midst of falling snow and almost utter darkness. As the water 
reached the boiler fires, a sheet of mingled steam, smoke and flame 
poured into the boat, illuminating the ghastly countenances with a 
sudden glare of vivid light, and completing the consternation. The 
conviction that the curse of fire was to be added to our other im- 
minent perils, chilled the resolution of the stoutest hearts. But the 
rapid sinking of the boat extinguished the fires, and all was dark- 
ness again. In less than five minutes the stern rested on the bottom, 
the water being above the windows of the aft saloon state rooms." 
The hull of the boat broke near the forward gangway. The bow 
of the boat ran to the very top of the rock. The passengers who 
were fortunate in escaping death were extricated from the stateroom 
on the promenade deck by cutting through the roofing. The steamers 
Rochester and Express came to the relief of the passengers, and 
took them on board. The following persons lost their lives by this 
accident : 

Two Misses Wood, of Albany ; Mrs. Coffin, West Troy ; Miss 
Briggs, Albany street; Miss Spencer, of Troy; William Davis, Al- 
bany ; Mrs. Conklin, Bennington, Vt. ; son of General Mather, New 
York ; Peter McCarroll, Mrs. Lambertson, Jamaica, L. I. ; Mrs. 
Bassett, Herkimer county; Mrs. Catharine T. Parker, Utica ; Mrs. 
Gelson, Schenectady. Lost and bodies recovered, 13 ; lost, not re- 
covered, I. 

The Swallow made her first trip to Troy, August 8th, 1836, Cap- 
tain McLean being in command of the vessel. 

A Unitarian congregation was organized in July, of this year, 
in the Court House. The first denominational services were held 
the first day of June, Rev. H. F. Harrington, of Albany, officiating. 
On the thirteenth of the succeeding month, a meeting was held and 
a committee appointed to obtain subscriptions and to procure a per- 
manent place of worship. In August, a building near the corner 
of Fourth street and Broadway, first used by the Presbyterian con- 
gregations of First and Sixth streets as a session house, and for 
evening meetings, was purchased. The first Trustees were chosen 
on the first day of October following. In August, Rev. John Pier- 
pont began his first pastoral labors in this charge. He remained in 
Troy until August, 1849. In the fall of 1846, the church building 
was enlarged. 

In April, work began on the ground purchased for the erection of 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 199 

the Troy Savings Bank building. When the edifice was ahnost com- 
pleted, August nth, 1845, John W. Brooks, while examining one of 
the cap stones which had been hoisted in position, fell from the 
platform to the pavement below, crushing his skull and meeting an 
instantaneous death. 

In the year 1845, Troy had 76 lawyers, 25 physicians and 19 
clergymen. There were twenty-five churches in the city, not in- 
cluding one partly constructed. These were divided among the 
denominations as follows : four Presbyterian, four Episcopalian, 
three Baptist, one Friend's, two Methodist Episcopal, one Wesleyan 
Methodist, one Associate Reformed, one Congregational, two Ro- 
man Catholic, one Universalist, one Unitarian, one colored Presby- 
terian, one colored Methodist, and two in Albia, a Methodist and a 
Presbyterian. 

The stove interest of Troy was represented by the following man- 
ufacturers, who were then annually making the number of stoves 
appended to their names : Johnson, Geer & Co., 12,000 ; John Mor- 
rison, 8,000 ; N. Starbuck & Son, 5,000; Wager & Dater, 5,000; 
Atwood, Cole & Crane, 4,000 ; and P. Low &: Co., about 6,000, 
which were cast at the foundry of C hollar & Jones, West Troy. 

At the American Institute, Troy ginghams, manufactured by 
Benjamin Marshall, at the Ida Mills, took the first premium in 

1845- 

In 1846, a stage, belonging to the Troy and Montreal line, left 
Troy every morning at nine o'clock, and after stopping three nights 
on the road, reached INIontreal early on the fourth day. 
Stages left Montreal every afternoon, and arrived in Troy 
after a three days' journey. This line was known as Dorlon's. 

Early in the spring of 1846, Le Grand Cannon & Co. erected a 
spacious rolling mill on the meadow, a short distance south of the 
new mill and furnace of Johnson & Cox, These mills gave employ- 
ment to about three hundred men. Starks & Edson also erected a 
building on the Poesten Kill for the manufacture of augers and 
screws. 

The first telegraphic connection was made with Saratoga Springs 
on the 24th of Jidy, with New York and the West Sept. 9th, and 
via New York with Boston, Oct. 6th, 1846. 

Ezra Cornell, in May, 1847, purchased of the patentees the right 
to construct a telegraph line from Troy to the northern 
boundary of the State. This was the first time a company 



200 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

had been organized independent of the patentees. The cost per 
mile was about $200. 

The steamboat Niagara, from New York to Troy, on Saturday 
morning, July 31, 1847, when opposite Sing Sing, burst, her boiler. 
Two firemen were blown overboard and seven passengers were se- 
verely injured and scalded. 

A favorite place of amusement in Troy, similar to the famous 
Barnum's Museum in New York city, was Peale's Troy Museum, on 
the north-east corner of Elbow (Fulton) and River streets. 

It was open through the day, and at 8 o'clock in the evening the- 
atrical performances and scenic exhibitions were given. On Satur- 
day afternoons the plays were adapted to the taste of juvenile visi- 
tors. " Curiosities of every description, including beasts, birds, 
reptiles, minerals, fossils, works of art from the hands of the native 
savage, and the more finished from the civilized artists, Grand 
Cosmoramas, fifty Burmese figures in their native costumes and dif- 
ferent castes , superior electrical machines, and admirable paintings 
of the Great Sea Serpent, were the attractive features of the place 

The next destructive fire which consumed a large amount of pro- 
perty in Troy, began at half past nine o'clock on the morn- 
ing of May ist, 1848, in a stable attached to and in tlie 
rear of Halsted's Mechanics' Hall, near the present site of the State 
Armory. All the buildings on the east and west sides of River 
street, between Ferry and Congress streets, to the alley east of 
River street, were destroyed. 

" In the stables in the rear of Mechanics' Hall, where the fire be- 
gan, twenty-four horses were burned, seventeen of them belonging 
to J Barney (proprietor of the Troy and Albany line of stages,) 
and seven to Messrs, Halsted. The fire swept off the following 
buildings on the east side of River street : Mechanic's Hall (Hal- 
sted's hotel,) owned by D. Gardner and occupied by S. J. & A. C. 
Halsted. City Hotel, 146 River, (next north) occupied by R. 
Wheeler. Grocery store. No. 144, H. H. Sears, occupant. The 
contents were partly removed to the store of Bigelow, Moore & 
Taylor on the opposite side of the street, which was afterwards de- 
stroyed. 

" In J. T. McCoun's buildings, corner of River and Congress 
streets : No. 150 River street, clothing store, occupied by Levi Sip- 
perly ; No. 152, Daniel M. Sipperly, clothing store; No. 154, G. P. 
Wilkinson, clothing store. In the upper part o4" the building on 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 2OI 

Congress street, the Northern Star Lodge of United Order of Odd 
Fellows. No. 10 Congress St., F. Melvin's shoe store; Henry Met- 
calf, harness shop; No. 12, J. & J. 15. Bayer, shoe store; No. 14, 
L. B. Gardner, paint shop; No. 16, O. Montague, collar maker, and 
Coonrad Denniker as a dwelling up-stairs. The upper stories of 
this building were partly occupied by D. W. Chajjuian, cabinet 
maker, and John Connelly, coach lace manufacturer. 

" Military Hall, owned by George M. Tibbits, and occupied as fol- 
lows • Seely & Tilley, tinsmiths; James Jordan, licpior store; W. 
C. Atcher, grocer ; William Scheler, clothing store ; the upper part 
was used as an armory by the Troy Citizens' Corps. Attached to 
the Mechanics' Hall was a barber shop kept by Charles F. Wolf, 
and the office of the Albany hourly line of stages. 

*■ On the west side of River street, the following places were 
burned or damaged by fire . No. 137, store of Russell & McConihe ; 
and No 139 store of Russell Sage, were considerably injured ; No. 
135. S Bosworth & Son, grocery store, upper part damaged; No. 
141. vacant, owned by John P Cushman , No. 143, flour store of 
Howland, Bills & Thayer, building owned by the estate of Abraham 
Howland , also the store of Wm. F Sage; No. 145, Bigelow, Moore 
& Taylor, flour store, building owned by J. N. Willard ; No. 147, 
flour store, J N. \Yillard . No. 149, B. F. Town, sail lofts, Nos. 151 
and 153, flour stores of Vail, Hayner &: Fellows were somewhat in- 
pired These buildings were thoroughly fire proof, and it was 
owing to this fact that the fire was arrested at this point. 

Tlie firemen of Lansingburgh, West Troy and Albany, did ex- 
cellent service, and were tendered the thanks of the city in publish- 
ed cards. The Albany companies dragged their engines for six 
miles over a heavy road. 

In recognition of the splendid and heroic services of General 
John E. Wool during the Mexican war, the Common Council of 
Troy and the Legislature of the State of New York each voted him 
the present of a sword. On his return home, in August, 1848, " the 
committee of the Common Council, Recorder J. S. Olin, Russell 
Sage and Andrew Watrous, Aldermen ; the committee of citizens, 
James Van Schoonhoven, Uri Gilbert and D. T. Vail, , the Citi- 
zens' Corps in command of Captain A. H. Pierce and staff, A. K. 
Hadley and James M. Lemon, went to New York on the steamboat 
Empire, Captain Tupper, on Friday evening, August i8th. On 
their arrival in New York on the following morning, thev proceeded 
26 



202 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

to the Astor House, where they were received by General Wool. 
From the Astor House they escorted the General through the 
thronged streets, amid the cheers of the assembled citizens, to the 
steamboat Hendrick Hudson. On the arrival of the Hendrick 
Hudson at Troy, the General and the escort were joined by the 
Troy City Artillery, Captain Brintnall. A procession was formed, 
which escorted General Wool to his residence, No. 75 First street. 
The following particulars of the public honors bestowed upon 
Troy's returned hero. General John E. Wool, are given in the Troy 
Daily Whig of August 24th : 

"On Wednesday, August 23, the streets of Troy began to be 
thronged with people, and the morning cars brought the following 
military companies : Albany Republican Artillery, Capt. Freden- 
dall; Albany Washington Rifles, Capt. Triegler ; New York City 
Guard, Capt. McArdle ; Syracuse Citizens' Corps, Capt. Minard ; 
Utica Citizens' Corps, Capt. Hart ; Saratoga Artillery, Capt. Plunk- 
ett, Schenectady Artillery, Capt. Springer. These organizations 
were received by the Troy Citizens' Corps, Capt. Pierce, and the 
Troy City Artillery, Capt. Brintnall. 

"Among the Bands were : Kellogg's Brass Band, of Syracuse ; 
Cook's Brass Band, of Albany ; Aricott's Brass Band, of Utica ; 
Schenectady Brass Band ; U. S. Arsenal Band, West Troy ; U. S. 
Band, Governor's Island ; Forrester's Brass Band, of Lansingburgh. 

"Among the military of rank and distinction were the staff of 
General Wool, Adjutant Winship, and Aids McLean and Totten; 
the Governor's staff, Adjutant Stevens, Col. Van Vcchten and Col. 
Carman, of Albany; Gen. Storms, of New York, and staff; Major 
Bogart, Major Mumford and Morgan ; Major Baker and staff from 
the Arsenal ; Major Cooper and staff, from Albany ; Hon. Millard 
Fillmore, and Hon. C. Morgan, of the State Department. 

"At II o'clock, the military and citizens appeared at the residence 
of General Wool, where he was addressed by Major General J. J. 
Viele, welcoming him home, to which General Wool replied. The 
military then passed in review, after which the General took his ap- 
pointed place in the line, and the procession passed through the 
city streets, as had been previously published. Arriving at the 
Court House, the General was received by a committee of one hun- 
dred citizens and the Common Council, with tremendous cheers 
from at least 40,000 people. The General was then conducted to 
the stand erected in front of the Court House, where he was ad- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



>03 



dressed by George Gould, Esq., in behalf of the citizens of Troy. 
The Honorable Mayor, Francis N. Mann, then in Ijchalf of the 
Common Council of the city of Troy, presented him with a splen- 
did and costly sword. The General in turn replied in a speech of 
acceptance. The procession was re-formed, and the military organ- 
izations escorted the General back to his residence, where they were 
dismissed. 

" The sword presented to General John E. Wool was manufac- 
tured by Ball, Tompkins & Black, New York. It was a Roman 
sword, classical in style, and elegant in workmanship. The mount- 
ings, hilt and scabbard were of gold, the blade two-edged, broad 
and straight, two feet four inches long. The hilt was surmounted 
with a Roman helmet, on which were the figures of Hercules and 
Mars. On the guard was the following inscription : ' Presented by 
the Common Council and citizens of Troy, N. Y., to their townsman 
Brigadier General John E. Wool, as a token of their personal es- 
teem and of their high appreciation of his gallantry and military 
ability, as displayed on the bloody field of Buena Vista, the 2 2d 
and 23d days of February, 1847.' The scabbard was richly en- 
graved with battle scenes, arms, banners and other suitable devices, 
and bore the following impressive inscriptions : ' Queenstown, Oct. 
12, 1S12; Plattsburgh, Sept. 11, 1814; Buena Vista, February 22d 
and 23d, 1847.' " 

The presentation of a sword by the State Legislature to General 
Wool, took place on Saturday, December 30th, 1848. The Gen- 
eral and his staff, on the morning of that day, left Troy, escorted 
by the Troy Citizens' Corps and the Troy City Artillery. Ar- 
riving at Albany, they were met by General Cooper and his staff, the 
military aids of the Governor, the Albany Republican Artillery, and 
the Albany Washington Rifles. The procession then proceeded to 
the Capitol, where his excellency, Governor Young, in an appropri- 
ate address presented the gift of the State. The sword was manu- 
factured by Ball, Tompkins & Black, of New York, and cost ^1,700 
in gold. 

On Thursday, March 15th, 1849, two murderers were executed in 
the county jail, — Andress Hall, for the murder of Mrs. 
Amy Smith, and Barney O'Donnell, for the murder of An- 
tonio Ratto. Hall made a confession, in which he stated that he 
had killed Noah Smith, the husband of Amy Smith, and also Frank- 
lin Brown, of Hoosick. 



2C4 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Oil Thursday night, May lytli, when nearly opposite Newburgli, 
the steamboat Empire, Captain W. W. Tapper, coming from New 
York to Troy, was sunk by a collision with the schooner Noah 
Brown. Seventeen lives were lost by this accident. 

Congress Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Ida Hill, was dedi- 
cated on the i2th day of July. The dedicatory sermon was preach- 
ed by Bishop Hamline, of Cincinnati. The venerable Bishop Eli- 
jah Hedding, and a large number of Methodist clergymen, were 
present. Rev. A. A. Farr was pastor of the church, and Rev. Z. 
Phillips, Presiding Elder. The Stewards were Gardner Rowland, 
George Christie, E. B. Sherwood, A. D. Wilcox and Joseph Hillman. 
Services were first held in June, 1847, by this congregation in a hired 
house on the corner of Congress street and Vail's Road. 

The years of 1845, 6, 7 and 8 were remarkable for emigration. 
In consequence of the famine in Ireland at this time, many of the 
emigrants reached America in a starving condition. The ship fever 
caused much sickness among them, and which, being contagious, 
prevailed to an alarming extent in Troy among those of the inhabi- 
tants with whom they were at first allowed to mingle. The city 
authorities were compelled to erect temporary sheds as hospitals for 
this class of people, and to isolate them until the fever abated. 
Sometimes there were as many as two hundred sick persons in these 
rude buildings. The people being mostly Roman Catholics, were 
visited and ministered to by Rev. Peter Havermans. To this worthy 
priest, the erection of a hospital was suggested for the reception of 
people in like circumstances. By his efforts funds were secured for 
the erection of a permanent building. 

On Wednesday afternoon of August 15th, the corner stone of the 
Troy Hospital was laid. The ceremony was performed by General 
John E. Wool. On the corner-stone of the building, which is situ- 
ated at the corner of Washington and Hill streets, is the inscription : 
" Corner-stone of the Troy Hospital, laid by General John E. Wool, 
U. S. A., August 15th, 1849." 

Hon. Henry Clay made a second visit to Troy on Thursday, 
August 1 6th, 1849, and was greeted by a large concourse of people. 

The Troy Board of Trade was organized on Saturday evening, 
October 13, 1849, with the following officers : Day O. Kellogg, Presi- 
dent ; Joseph M. Warren, ist Vice President; W. F. Sage, 2d Vice 
President; John B. Tibbits, Secretary, and Alfonzo Bills, Treasurer. 
The committee of reference embraced the following persons : Hiram 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 205 

Slocum, George Lesley, Gurdon Grant, Amos S. Perry, Townsend 
M. Vail, Griffith P. Griffith, Josiah Bouton, B. A. Tillinghast and 
John A. Griswold. The Directors were : Horace Herrington, 
Charles T. Coit, H. C. Lockwood, John N. Willard, S. G. Doughty, 
Arba Read, John Hunter, Ethan Armstrong, R. H. Thurman and 
George Cross. The meetings of the Board were held in the hall of 
the Athenseum building. 

The following details of the forwarding business of Troy in 1849, 
were presented in the Troy Daily Whig, of P^ebruary nth, 1850 : 

" Col. James Hooker, formerly a business clerk with Pattison & 
Hart, is now the occupant of their store, and is engaged in the for- 
warding business, and has in his employ the following number of 
boats, horses and men : 11 barges, aggregate tonnage, 5,100; number 
of men employed on them 45 to 50. 

50 canal boats running to Buffalo, capacity 3500 tons ; 250 men. 
29 " " " Rochester, " 2030 " 14^ " 

16 " " " Oswego, " i::Co " 80 " 

25 " " " Whitehall, " 2000 " 150 " 

The steam propeller " James H. Hooker," on Lake Champlain, of 
300 tons burden; 11 sail vessels on Lake Champlain, of 1650 tons 
burden, 60 men; about 800 horses for towing boats on the Erie 
canal, with 90 men and 400 boys ; and 200 horses on Lake Cham- 
plain, with 20 men and 100 boys. 

" Li connection with the Buffalo line of canal boats are six steam- 
boats and five propellers of the largest class, running on western 
waters. About fifty agents and clerks are in the offices in New 
York, Troy, Oswego, Rochester, Buffalo and Whitehall. The magni- 
tude of the business may be estimated from the fact that it employed 
last season 1395 men and boys. The canal tolls paid during the 
season of 1849 by the house were $250,000. It is understood that 
Pope Catlin of New York, and Richard H. Pattison are connected 
in this business. 

" The forwarding establishment of Ide, Coit & Co. has fourteen 
barges on the river, with a capacity for carrying 48,000 tons per trip, 
equal to 44,500 bis. flour, or 125,000 bushels of grain. Number 
of men employed on them 102. Seventy of the largest canal boats 
plying for freight and passengers on the Erie canal to Rochester and 
Buffalo, and on the Oswego canal to Oswego — each boat carrying 
about 75 tons or 700 barrels of flour. Whole capacity for each trip 
49,000 barrels flour. About 300 horses are employed, together with 



206 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

350 men and 150 boys. They have four propellers on the lakes 
plying between Buffalo and the principal ports of Lakes Erie, Huron 
and Michigan, with a capacity of carrying 3,000 bis. of flour, or 325 
tons each. Men employed on this craft, 100 ; clerks in the differ- 
ent offices, 30. The craft employed in the business amounts to 
12,000 tons, employs 850 men and 300 horses. 

" The forwarding business of Griffith P. Griffiths embraces 8 
barges, capacity 2,000 tons, on the river between Troy and New York. 
40 canal boats, 120 men, 75 boys, and 150 horses. 

" Silliman & Gardner have in their line 7 barges of 1790 tons, 4 
sloops of 615 tons, and employ 28 men and 9 clerks. Freight 
shipped in 1849 was 45,093 tons. 

" W. T. Willard employs 17 barges, averaging 200 tons each ; 2 
men to each vessel in his Troy and Philadelphia line ; and 6 schoon- 
ers of 200 tons each with 5 men to each vessel." 

Early in the summer of 1850, a preliminary meeting was held in 
the Court House, at which it was proj^osed to organize a building 
association. A committee was appointed to draft a suitable 
■ constitution, which was reported at a meeting in June, and 
adopted. On Monday evening, July ist, the Troy Building Asso- 
ciation elected the following persons as its first officers : Uri Gilbert, 
President ; Hezekiah Thayer, Vice President ; John P. Albertson, 
Treasurer; Rev. John Smith, Secretary; and as Directors: Thos. 
B. Carroll, J. C. Spencer, John S. Perry, Gilbert Robertson, George 
Huckett, John G. Britton, J. U. Orvis, Henry Robbins and John 
L. Ells. The office of the association was at No. 10 Second street, 
the rooms of the Mutual Insurance Company. 

The charter of the Troy & Boston Railroad company was ob- 
tained April 4th, 1848; previous to which time a corps of engineers 
under the direction of A. F. Edwards was employed by a committee 
of citizens to make preliminary surveys of the route. In May, 1849, 
a few friends of the enterprise commenced procuring subscriptions 
to the capital stock, which they continued to do until November, 
when it was deemed advisable to organize a company by choosing a 
Board of Directors, and a number of commissioners to procure 
further subscriptions to the capital stock. On Tuesday, November 
20th, 1849, the following persons were elected Directors of the road : 
John E. Wool, George M. Tibbits, D. Thomas Vail, Daniel Robin- 
son, Charles H. Merritt, Jonas C. Heartt, Elias Johnson, E. Thomp- 
son Gale, Isaac B. Hart and Stephen E. Warren, of Troy ; Amos 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 207 

Briggs, Schaghticoke ; D. S. McNamara, North Hoosick, and I-. 
Chandler Ball, of Hoosick Falls. 

At a subsequent meeting of the Directors, the following persons 
were elected officers : Amos Briggs, President ; D. Thomas Vail, 
Vice President; Day O. Kellogg, Secretary and Treasurer. After 
completing the organization of the company, the necessary articles 
of the association were filed in the office of the Secretary of State. 

On Thursday, the 6th day of June, 1850, work was begun on the 
Troy & Boston railroad. At ten o'clock in the morning, a proces- 
sion, under the direction of Gen. Viele as marshal, marched from 
the Court House to the farm lot belonging to the " Bull's Head " 
farm, a mile and a half from the city. The Troy Citizen's Corps, 
Capt. Whitlock; the Troy City Artillery, Capt. Brintnall ; the Re- 
publican Guards, Capt. Burns ; the Lansingburgh Independent Ar- 
tillery, Capt. Mercer; the Arsenal Cornet Band, Capt. Jones; the 
Troy City Band, with the President and Directors of the Troy & 
Boston railroad, the Chief Engineer and assistants, the stockholders 
and others. Arriving on the ground, addresses were delivered by 
Hon. A. K. Hadley, Gen. John E. Wool, and the Mayor, Hon. Day 
O. Kellogg. Gen. Wool with a pick broke the ground, and Mayor 
Kellogg shovelled the loose earth into a wheelbarrow, which Amos 
Briggs, the President of the road, wheeled away. After these for- 
malities, the President of the company made an address. On re- 
turning to the city, more than a hundred guests of the company 
sat down to an excellent dinner provided for the occasion at the 
Troy House. 

The project of tunneling the Hoosick mountain to the distance 
of about five miles, was by many persons laughed at as the offspring 
of visionary minds, and denounced as an absurdity. Nevertheless, 
its bold projectors began the work, strongly assured of its ultimate 
success, and of its great utility to travel and traffic when finished. 
This vast undertaking was thus spoken of by the Oswego Times in 
June, 1850 : 

" The proposed tunnel connecting the east and the west side of 
the Troy & Boston railroad through the Green mountains, is esti- 
mated to be four miles long. Nobody but the Trojans would think 
of such an exploit." 

On Monday, June 28th, 1852, the formal opening of the Rutland 
& Washington railroad, and the Troy & Boston from its junction at 
Eagle Bridge, took place, and a train with many distinguished indi- 



2o8 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

viduals arrived in Troy that evening and partook of a banquet pre- 
pared for the occasion. 

In August, the docks a short distance below Albany street (Broad- 
way) to Division street, were extended twenty feet into the river. 
The cost of the work was estimated at $13,000. James T. Brady, of 
West Troy, was the contractor, and William Barton the engineer in 
charge. 

Oakwood Cemetery was consecrated on Wednesday, October 16, 
1850. A procession of the various military organizations of the 
city marched to the grounds, where the exercises were opened with 
music by the Arsenal Band, prayer by Rev. Dr. Beman, reading of 
the scriptures by Rev. Robert B. Van Kleeck, singing by the choir 
of a hymn composed for the occasion by Rev. John Pierpont, ad- 
dress by Hon. David Buel, Jr., at the conclusion of which Judge 
Buel declared Oakwood Cemetery to be duly consecrated for burial 
purposes in the name and by the authority of the officers of the 
association. Rev. George C. Baldwin pronounced the benediction. 

The Athenian Lodge of Odd Fellows, at the close of the year, 
presented to the Washington Monument Association a block of Rut- 
land statuary marble, three feet long, one foot nine inches broad, 
and one foot thick, bearing the following inscription : " Presented 
by the Athenian Lodge, 268, L O. of O. F., Troy, N. Y." 

Under the general banking law of the State, the Union Bank of 
Troy was organized in January, 185 1, with a capital stock 

^ ■ of $250,000. The first officers were : Joel Mallary, Presi- 
dent, John Kerr, Vice President ; Pliny M. Corbin, Cashier. The 
Directors were : Joel Mallary, John Kerr, W, F. Sage, Thomas W. 
Lockwood, P. T. Pleartt, Hiram Ingalls, L. A. Battershall, John W. 
Freeman, Lyman Bennett, Richardson PL Thurman, and David B. 
Cox. The bank began business in the spring at No. 12 First street. 

The first number of the Troy Daily Times was issued on Wed- 
nesday afternoon, June 25th, 1851. The price of a single copy was 
two cents. Francis & Thompson were the publishers, and John M. 
Francis, the editor. The office of the new daily was at No. 5 Can- 
non Place, up-stairs. 

The Marshall Lifirmary of the city of Troy was incorporated 
June 20, 1 85 1. It was designed for the accommodation of the sick 
who were destitute of home comforts and convenient appliances, 
while suffering from disease or mental malady. It originated with, 
and to a great extent was endowed by, Benjamin Marshall. When 




I IP 









-^-* J 



^^ l^-^ jO^ 










-- '^}i;a^0 



!!|pf1;f''^l ' 



•> 



^'# 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 209 

built, it consisted of three departments, besides the lying-in apart- 
ment ; one for those afflicted with the ordinary diseases of human- 
ity, one for the treatment of pestilent and contagious diseases, and 
one for the insane. 

In September, 185 1, Father Matthew, the great temperance mis- 
sionary, visited Troy, and established among the Roman Catholics 
several societies. On Sunday, September 21st, he delivered an ad- 
dress to a large congregation in St. Mary's church. Nearly six 
thousand people took the pledge to abstain from the use of spiritu- 
ous liquors. 

The first through railroad train from New York to Troy arrived 
in the city on the 19th of December, 185 1. The office of the Hud- 
son River railroad was located at No. 197 River street. On the 
first of June of this year the Troy & Greenbush railit)ad was leased 
to the above road. This agreement did not include the local busi- 
ness between Troy and Albany, which was still held by the Troy & 
Greenbush railroad company. 

Governor Louis Kossuth, on Thursday, the 3d of June, 1S52, was 
welcomed by a large concourse of people who had gathered 
to receive him, at Franklin Square, where he arrived in . 
the cars from Schenectady on the morning of that day. At the 
Court House, Hon. A. B. Olin tendered him the hospitalities of the 
city. Kossuth and his suite took rooms at the Troy House. In. 
the evening, he delivered a speech in the First Presbyterian church, 
wliich was thronged by the citizens anxious to hear the great Mag- 
yar. 

On the second of September, the State Bank of Troy began busi- 
ness in its new banking house on the corner of First and State 
streets. The capital stock was $250,000. R. J. Starks, who was 
elected President on its organization, resigned, and Dr. Alfred Wot- 
kyns was elected his successor. The other officers were Henry In- 
gram, Vice President, and Willard Gay, Cashier. 

The organization of the Mutual Bank of Troy, was effected No- 
vember 24th, 1852, with a capital of $200,000. John P. Albertson 
was chosen its first President, Joseph U. Orvis, Vice President, and 
George A. Stone, Cashier. The bank was located at No. 18 First 
street. 

The Central Bank of Troy was organized on the 30th of Decem- 
ber, 1852, at No. 271 River street, with a capital of $200,000. The 
first officers were : J. Tansing Van Schoonhoven, President ; Vol- 
27 



2IO HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

ney Richmond, Vice President ; James Buel, Cashier. The busi- 
ness of the bank was conducted for a time in the Mansion House 
block. 

The Manufacturer's Bank was organized in 1852, and began busi- 
ness in a building No. 7 State street, with a capital of $250,000. 
The first officers were : Arba Read, President ; Charles W. Thomp- 
son, Vice President ; John S. Christie, Cashier. 

A fire was discovered about two and a half o'clock on the after- 
noon of October 28, 1852, in a shed in the rear of house No. 24 
south side of Fulton street, which communicated to the surrounding 
buildings and to the car shops of Eaton, Gilbert & Co., on the west 
side of Sixth street, from which point it crossed the alley between 
Fifth and Sixth streets, destroying the double wood house of James 
Hodge, and one in the rear owned by Elisha Lovett. The whole of 
the block of buildings known as Union Place was burned. The 
North Baptist church, erected in 1843, was consumed. The loss 
was estimated at $52,000. 

The Legislature, on the 20th of June, 185 1, passed an act author- 
izing the city of Troy and certain railroad corporations to subscribe 
for and become the owners of stock for the construction of a rail- 
road through the whole or some portion of the city of Troy. Under 
this act the Troy Union railroad company was organized. At a 
meeting of the stockholders of this company, held at the Chamber- 
lain's office, on Monday, July 21, 185 1, the following persons were 
elected the first Directors of the association : Jonas C. Heartt,, John 
L. Thompson, Edmund Schryver, L. R. Sargent, Jared S. Weed, 
Russell Sage, L. G. B. Cannon, James Forsyth, Elias Plum, Martin 
I. Townsend, Uri Gilbert, D. Thomas Vail and Alexander G. Hal- 
sted. Subsequently the following officers were chosen : D. Thos, 
Vail, President ; Uri Gilbert, Vice President ; and James Forsyth, 
Secretary and Treasurer. 

In January, 1853, the Troy Union railroad company purchased 
the Eaton & Gilbert block on Sixth street, for the purpose 

^ of erecting a passenger depot. The depot was begun and 

completed in 1854. The building was four hundred feet long, the 
span of the arch was one hundred and fifty-one feet, with a rise of 
thirty feet. The arch was supported by a succession of wooden 
trusses, about two feet in width and three feet in height. On the 
19th of July of that year, the cars upon the Central railroad 
arrived at and departed from the Union Depot. At the same time 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 2 II 

was completed a second bridge adjoining the old Rensselaer & Sar- 
atoga bridge, for the use of the Union railroad. The drawing of 
trains through the bridge by horses was abandoned, and thereafter 
locomotives were attached, and trains passed without stoppage across 
the river to the Union Depot. The rails of the old track were 
taken up, the bridge was thoroughly repaired, and that part used 
by teams and pedestrians. 

The Market Bank of Troy was organized in January, 1853, with 
the following persons as officers : Jeremiah S. Hakes, President ; 
Elias Johnson, Vice President ; A. C. Gunnison, Cashier. Capital 
stock, $200,000. The business of the Bank was transacted at 282 
River street. 

Another land slide occurred on Wednesday evening about six 
o'clock, March 23, 1853. The hill from which it parted was situated 
east of Fourth street, and in the rear of the old India rubber factory, 
south of the Poesten Kill. A house occupied by Patrick Martin 
and his family was situated upon the cross road running from the 
Hollow road to the First street bridge. As the slide reached the 
creek, it forced the water over the road, taking with it the house, 
with one woman, three children and several cows. Fortunately no 
lives were lost, although the children narrowly escaped drowning. 
The house was carried a distance of fifteen rcd^.. 

By a resolution of the Common Council, May 26, 1853, the follow- 
ing church bells were made alarm bells for the year. The bells on 
St. Joseph's church, St. Mary's, Second street Presbyterian, Third 
street Baptist, St. Paul's, Fifth street Baptist, Sixth street Presby- 
terian, Christ Church, and St. Peter's Church. The rate of com- 
pensation was as follows : The ringer of the first bell for a fire was 
to receive 10s, the second 8^-, the third 6s, and all the others who 
rang as above specified, received each 4^-. The precedence of time 
was to be settled among the ringers. 

Henrietta Robinson, known as the veiled murderess, on the 25th 
of May, poisoned Timothy Lannigan, aged 37, and Catharine Luby, 
by pouring poison into beer which she had them drink in the grocery 
store of Lannigan, situated on the corner of Vanderheyden and 
River streets. Mrs. Robinson lived opposite, in a cottage adjoining 
the residence of Oliver Boutwell on the north. 

The trial of this woman began on Monday, November 22, 1854, 
being an adjourned term of the court of Oyer and Ter- 
miner. Honorable Judge Ira Harris presided ; Justices 



2J2 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Burdick and Newberry being his associates. For the people ap- 
peared Anson Bingham, District Attorney ; Henry Hogeboom and 
George Van Santvoord, Esqrs. ; and for the prisoner, Job Pierson, 
WilUam A. Beach, Martin I. Townsend, A. B. Olin and Samuel 
Stover, Esqrs. The prisoner was said to have been at one time, a 
pupil of Mrs. Willard's at the Troy Female Seminary, and known 
then as Charlotte Wood. Although convicted and sentenced to im- 
prisonment, she was afterward declared to be insane, and sent to 
an asylum. The distinguished legal talent represented in this case, 
and the mystery connected with the former life of the prisoner, 
created much interest and discussion at the time of the trial. 

The opening of the Union railroad and the new depot, which 
took place on the twenty-second of February, 1854, was celebrated 
with speeches and a banquet in the upper north and south rooms of 
the depot buihiing. A train of five passenger cars, with three hun- 
dred invited guests, together with one hundred and twenty-five 
members of the State Legislature, came from Greenbush, passing 
up through the depot, and up the new track as far as Hoosick street, 
and then, after backing, went up the western turn to the bridge and 
thence back again to the depot. A collation, prepared by Rich & 
Bosemon, was then partaken of by about- five hundred guests, while 
Jones' Cornet Band enlivened the occasion with excellent music. 
Among the distinguished speakers were Gen. Burroughs, of Orleans ; 
Hon. Andrew B. Dickinson, of Steuben ; Hon. George VV. Sterling, 
of Dutchess ; Hon. Charles C. Leigh, of New York ; Hon. Samuel 
D. Morris, of Kings ; Hon. De Witt C. Littlejohn, of Oswego , Hon. 
Christopher Morgan, Gen. Orville Clark, from Washington ; Hon. 
Benjamin Joy, of Tompkins, and others. General Davis, in reply 
to a speech complimentary to Troy, remarked that it had been at- 
tributed to Troy that it had always " an axe to grind." "This," he 
said, " was not true, for Troy's axe was always ground, and always 
possessed an edge as sharp as a razor." The occasion was very en- 
joyable, and the various speeches were full of humor, and compli- 
mentary to the enterprise of the Troy people. The pleased guests 
returned to Albany in the evening. 

On August 25th, 1854, an extensive conflagration destroyed two 
hundred buildings and rendered three hundred families houseless, 
entailing a loss of $1,000,000 worth of property. The Troy Daily 
Times of August 26th, thus describes it : 

" The fire broke out in the brick planing mill on Front street. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 213 

corner of Division, about i o'clock, p. m., and a prompt alarm was 
given. The fire companies, quickly arriving, endeavored to confine 
the flames to the building, in which the fire originated. Unfortu- 
nately, a strong northwest wind was blowing, and the fire was soon 
communicated to the large piles of lumber south of the mill, and to 
the wood buildings on the east side of Front street. Engine compa- 
nies were^formed in a line to the river south of the fire, to prevent its 
progress southwardly, but the difficulty in obtaining hose and water, 
as well as a misunderstanding between two fire companies from 
West Troy, prevented the accomplishment of the purpose. While 
the fire was raging, and the whole southern section imperilled, assist- 
ance was asked for from Albany, by telegraph, and three companies, 
Nos. I, 8 and 11, arrived from there about three o'clock. Fire com- 
panies from Waterford, Cohoes and Lansingburgh, also gave good 
service. The fire ran up the south side of Division to River street, 
and communicated to the brick row on the west side of River street, 
occupied by Robert Wasson and others, and it was with difficulty 
the residences on the opposite side were saved. From this point, it 
ran down the west side of River street, to the lumber yards below, 
crossing over the street and setting fire to the residence of Moses 
I. Winne, below Liberty street, and thence spreading over the entire 
section of the city from Liberty street down to the alley between 
Second and Third streets, destroying many valuable residences, to- 
gether with Edgerton, Sheldon & Osborn's (late Birge's) chair fac- 
tory, the Troy & Greenbush railroad freight depot and machine 
shop, Jones & Hitchcock's new and extensive bell foundry, Parmen- 
ter's machine shop, and other valuable property. 

"The burnt district covers the west side of River street, including 
Front street, and the dock and' about two-thirds of Pier from Divi- 
sion to Jefferson street, and east side of River, from Liberty to Jef- 
ferson streets, and on First street, on both sides, excepting the 
new St. John's church and two buildings, one on the east side, 
and one on the west side, from Liberty to Jefferson street ; also in- 
cluding the alley between First and Second streets, on the west side 
the same distance, with the exception of Jason C. Osgood's stable 
in the rear of his dwelling, and on the east side of the alley burning 
the stables in the rear of H. B. Ingalls' dwelling, and a row of build- 
ings on Adams street from the alley to Second street, also the office 
of Jas. Brown, on the south side of Adams street, the whole of 
which is burned over. 



214 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

On River street, west side, including buildings on Front street, 
except lumber offices : 

I brick steam planing mill, owned by Gibson, rf)f Albany, and occupied by Geo. 
Quiggin ; l wood building of I. McConihe, occupied by Richard Vanderheyden, 
corner of Front and Division ; i wood, of I. McConihe, occupied by three families, 
2 brick of E. T. Gale, occupants, Robert Wasson and Hosea Leach ; 2 wood, in 
rear, of E. T. Gale, occupied by four families ; 2 brick, of R. J. Starks, occupants, 
Ralph J. Starks, Alderman Avery ; I wood, of Calvin Hayner, occunant, S. J. 
Halsted ; 2 wood, in rear, of Calvin Hayner, four families; i wood, on Front 
street, of W. J. Peters, two families. North-west corner of Liberty and River — 
I wood, of Lemuel Brintnall, occupants, Thomas Douglas, Mr. Downing ; corner 
of Front and Liberty streets, I wood, of Lemuel Brintnall, one family. From 
River to Front streets — lumber sheds of Brainard & Cottrell, of the Waite Lowery 
estate ; 2 wood, boarding house and two families ; lumber sheds and offices of C. 
W. Thompson ; 3 wood, of David Lilis, five families; lumber sheds and offices of 
Waters W. Whipple ; also same of Gardner Landon. South-west corner of River 
and Washington streets — i wood, of Stephen Covell. On River street — 2 wood, 
of Stephen Bosworth's estate. Front street — i wood, of Henry Becker, two fam- 
ilies ; I brick, of George R. Davis ; i brick, of James Morrison ; I brick, of John 
M. Peck ; l brick, of James Van Schoonhoven, occupant, Calvin Hayner ; l brick, 
of Sandy Grey, occupant, Conkey Bros. ; i wood, of H. S. Hanson ; l brick, of 
Clark & Co., N. Y., occupant, Lucy Bosworth ; lumber sheds and office of Nathan 
Taylor. Corner Front and Adams — I brick, of John Sheridan. West side Front 
street and extending to River street — 2 brick, of B. T. Cushman, occupant, Chas. 
H. Bishop ; Freight house and depot of Troy & Greenbush railroad. On the Pier 
— furnace and warehouse of R. J. Knowlson, occupied by Noyes & Tillman ; I 
wood, of Job S. Olin, two families. 

East side of River street, including west side of alley : 

I brick, of Jacob M. Vanderheyden, occupant, Moses I. Winne ; 2 wood, of 
David L. Seymour, four families ; 2 wood,, of Isaac D. Ayres, two families ; i 
brick, of Daniels & Co., Boston, occupant, Nathan Taylor ; i wood, of Dennis 
M. Fitch, occupant, L. Egerton ; lumber sheds and offices of David Buel, Jr., oc- 
cupants, G. Landon & Son. Corner of Washington and River streets — I brick, 
of David Buel, Jr., occupant, Harvey Johnson ; opposite corner, i wood, Waters 
W. Whipple ; i wood, of David Ellis, two families ; I brick, of J. H. Byram ; i 
brick, of David Ellis ; i brick, of H. C. Fay, occupants, H. C. Fay and Geo. R. 
Davis, Jr. ; l brick, of Church estate, occupant, Josiah Osborne ; I brick, of R. D 
Silliman, occupants, Shaver & Watermyer ; i brick, of Austin Granger, two fami- 
lies ; I brick, chair factory, of Abram Nash, occupants, Egerton, Sheldon & Os- 
borne, including stores of Main & Co., and William Bumstead ; Troy & Green- 
bush railroad engine house, car house, turn table and wood sheds. 

On First street, west side, including east side of alley . 

I wood machine shop, of Silas Davis estate, occupant, J. C. Osgood ; i wood, of 
Silas Davis estate ; I wood, of G. P. Wilkinson, occupant E. S. Randall ; i wood, 
two families ; I wood, of Jacob Lane, occupant, Z. E. Fobes ; I wood, of Mrs. 
Abram Browcr, occupant, D. W. Chapman ; i brick, of J. C. Mattice ; i wood, F 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 2 I 5 

S. Thayer ; i brick, of E. S. Jones ; i wood, of Danker estate, occupant, \V. S. 
Cooney. North-west corner of First and Adams street — i brick, of James H. 
Congdon. Opposite corner — i brick, of J. T. B. White, occupant, Mrs. Miller ; 
I brick, of Alex. Brown ; I brick, of L. J. Rundell ; I brick, of J. C. Thompson, 
occupant, R. Kenyon and one family ; i brick, of R. D. Bardwell ; I brick, of F. 
A. Birge ; I brick, of A. C. Daniels ; I brick, of Charles Brovvnell, occupants, 
Charles Brownell and A. P. Osborne ; I wood, of Charles Browncll, two families ; 
I brick, of J. H. Byram, occupant Francis Drake and C. C. Greenwood ; I brick, 
of George Whitney, occupant Geor^ Whitney and George Granger; on alley — I 
brick, of John M. Peck, ten families. Corner of Adams and First street — i 
brick shop of John M. Peck, occupant F. W. Parmenter ; i brick bell foundry, 
of Jones & Hitchcock ; I carpenter shop of Charles Browncll ; on alley— 2 
wood of Widow Stevens, two families ; i wood, of Edward Knowles, two families ; 
I wood, of John P. Albertson, two families ; i wood, of John Flynn, two fami- 
lies : I brick, of David Lytle ; l dwelling on alley, two families ; l brick, of Job 
S. Olin, two families ; I brick, of Job S. Olin, on alley, four families. 

First street, east side, including west side of alley : 

I brick, of Jason C. Osgood ; I wood, of H. H. Sears ; I wood, on the alley, 
of H. H. Sears, two families ; l wood, of J. P. Albertson, occupant, C. Brewster ; 
I wood in rear, of J. P. Albertson, two families ; l wood, of John P. Conkey, two 
families ; 3 wood, of Charles O. Goodrich, Brooklyn, five families ; i brick, John 
Young ; I brick shop on First street, of D. & W. McGuire, and dwelling on alley, 
four families ; 2 brick, of Henry Hilke, four families ; i brick, of Arthur Mooney ; 
I brick, of Ira Whittaker, occupant Mr. Holmes ; i brick, of Gardner Landon ; 
I brick, of E. S. Brainerd ; I brick, of Charles Bishop ; i brick barn, of Buswell 
& Porter ; I brick, of John Oliver ; I carpenter shop of Moses Upham. P^rst 
street — I wood, of Moses Upham, four families ; I brick, of H. Van Rensselaer, 
four families ; l brick, of Mr. Nicholson, occupants, himself and two families ; i 
carpenter shop of Z. E. Fobes & Co.; I brick, of Volney Richmond, three families; 
I wood, of Wm. Ayres, himself and five families ; I brick, of Mrs. Kiley, herself 
and three families ; I brick, of H. W. Koons, four families 
Second street, west side and east of alley : 

3 wood, of James Brown, five families ; I brick, on Second street, corner of 
Adams, of John Mcintosh, occupants himself, David Stewart and four families ; 
I brick, of S. Robinson, two families ; I brick, of S. Robinson ; 3 brick barns. 

Liberty street, south side : 

I wood, of Daniel Lucy ; l brick, of Daniel Lucy, two families ; I wood, of Skin- 
ner Fletcher's estate, two families. 

Washington street, north side : 

I wood, of E. B. Wheeler ; I wood, of Gilbert Reilcy, occupant George Bon- 
tecou. 

Washington street, south side : 

I wood, of Hosea Leach, occupants, E. D. Waldron and Owen Bird ; i brick, 
of Sylvester Norton, occupants Norman Tuttle and Samuel Coitrell. 

The total loss was estimated at one million of dollars. Dtiring 
the conflagration, a large fire-brand lodged on the top of the frame- 



2l6 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

work of the steeple of St. John's Church, which threatened to set 
the building on fire. A brave man, named James Stantial, in the 
employ of Norton Sage, ascended to the dizzy height, and grasping 
the hot brand, threw it to the ground, and thus saved the church. 
The fire desolated a space of thirty acres. The weather was warm, 
and the firemen labored at great disadvantage. The progress of the 
fire was stopped at 6 o'clock, p. m., having burned nearly five hours. 
The sufferers by this fire, as the unfortunate people of former and 
similar calamities, were aided and ministered to by generous givers 
in the city and by distant benefactors. 



I 



Aug. 25, iSd4 



POD 




' 



CANAL A V £ rt U £ 



CHAPTER IX. 

From the Large Fire of 1854 to the Great Fn<E of 1862. 

In the spring of 1853, a number of Presbyterians determined to 
build a church in the southern section of the city, and in the follow- 
ing month of August began the erection of a suitable edifice on a 
lot oi)posite Washington Park, fronting on Second street. 
In July, 1854, a room in the building having been complet- 
ed, services were held in it, and a Sabbath School organized. On 
the 24th of August, the Troy (O. S.) Presbytery organized the Park 
Presbyterian Church, with twenty-three members — individuals for- 
merly connected with the churches in the upper part of the city. 
The day after the organization of the church, the great fire occurred, 
and all the families connected with the new congregation, except four, 
were deprived of their homes. The building was once on fire, but 
by the persevering exertions of some of the members and firemen, 
it was saved. For a time the impoverished condition of the church, 
and the removal of its members, delayed the progress of the work 
on the building and hindered the growth of the organization. How- 
ever the difficulties were overcome, and the main building completed, 
and the church was dedicated and open for worship on December 
31st, 1854 — the last Sabbath of the year. In the spring of 1855, 
Rev. Charles S. Robinson was called, and installed in June as Pastor 
of the congregation. 

The North Second Street Methodist Episcopal Church which had 
been erected during the year 1854, was dedicated on the 29th of 
December. Bishop Janes preached the dedication sermon, and Rev. 
Mr. Hatfield of Brooklyn, Rev. Stephen D. Brown the pastor, and 
Rev. H. W. Ransom, of Troy, assisting in the exercises. The edifice 
was built of brick, and was erected on the site of the former build- 
ing- 

The skiff ferry boat plying between the steamboat dock and the 
foot of Green Island, about seven o'clock on Friday morning, Octo- 
ber 13, 1854, capsized near the middle of the river with seventeen 
persons on board. Many of them could not swim, and eleven were 
28 



2l8 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

drowned. The upsetting of the boat was caused by the sudden 
rising of those aboard, in order to prevent the swells of the steamer 
Alice, which was passing at the time, from overflowing the skiff and 
wetting the clothing of the passengers. 

In the month of September of this year, a Russ pavement was laid 
on First street from River to Ferry, by Russ & Co., under the super- 
intendence of William Barton. Parts of Congress and State streets 
were also paved, as was River street after the removal of the rail- 
road tra(:]:s. 

The Troy Dramatic Building Association, of which James R. 
Fonda was President, and Charles Warner, Treasurer, having pur- 
chased lots Nos. lo and 12 on the east side of Third street, began 
the erection of a theater in May, 1855, which when completed in 
October was named the Troy Adelphi. 

In July, 1852, the congregation of St. John's Episcopal church, 
which had for many years worshiped in the old St. Paul's church 
building, corner of Congress and Third streets, sold the property to 
Gardner Rand for ^9,000, and began the erection of a new church 
structure on the south-east corner of Liberty and First streets. On 
Saturday, June 18, 1853, the corner-stone of the building was laid 
by Bishop Wainwright, assisted by Rev. R. B. Van Kleeck, Rev. 
Mr. Starkey, Rev. J. I. Tucker, and Rev. Edward Lounsbery, the 
Rector of the parish, Rev. H. Potter, of Albany, Rev. Nicholson, of 
Waterford, Rev. Samuel Buel, of Poughkeepsie, Rev. Hollinsworth, 
of Lockport, Rev. Cady, of West Troy, Rev. Cooke, of New York, 
Rev. Musgrove, of Mechanicville, and Rev. Dowiting, of Stillwater. 
The following articles were deposited in the corner-stone : a Bible, 
a book of Common Prayer, a journal of the General Convention of 
1850, a Church Almanac of 1853, Sword's Almanac of 1853, a copy 
of the Spirit of Missions, and a sketch of the history of the church. 
On the 31st of May, 1855, the church being completed, the Right 
Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., LL. D., Provisional Bishop of the Dio- 
cese, performed the act of consecration. The services were of a 
deeply interesting character, and brought together a large body of 
clergymen, among whom were two of the former rectors, Rev. 
Richard Cox and Rev. Edward Lounsbery. At this time Rev. 
Richard Temple was rector of the church. 

In 1856, Hiram Slocum was elected Mayor of Troy, and in his 
inaugural address, he advocated the annexation of Lansing- 

^ ' burgh and Troy. A bill for the consolidation o; the two 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 2I9 

places passed the Assembly, ])ut was not signed by the Governor, 
and failed to become a law. 

Among the last of the meetings of the Friends' Society of Troy, 
was one held in their meeting house, corner of State and Fourth 
streets, on the evening of September 2d, 1856. At this meeting, 
which was attended by about sixty persons, Rachel Hicks spoks j 
from the text, " It is better not to have known the truth, than to 
know it and prove unfaithful to it." Reuben Baker, from abroad, 
also made an address. 

A proposition was made to the citizens of Troy, at a meeting held 
in the Court House, on Thursday evening, Jan. 5th, 1854, by a num- 
ber of individuals who were engaged in establishing a college at 
Charlottesville, N. Y., to remove the institution to the city, and to 
bring with it $100,000, provided the people of Troy would raise an 
equal amount of money for its endowment. At this meeting, Hiram 
Slocum was called to the chair ; Isaac McConihe, L. A. Battershall 
and George Hicks were appointed Vice Presidents, and Joseph 
Hillman and G. M. Selden, Secretaries. Rev. L. Barber made a 
statement of the plan, following which a committee of conference 
was appointed, consisting of Hiram Slocum, Rev. George C. Bald- 
win, J. A. Millard and Thomas B. Carroll, who were to report to 
an adjourned meeting at the Court House, June loth, 1854. The 
committee reported favorably, and another committee was there- 
upon appointed to solicit the necessary money for the erection of a 
suitable building, and for the endowment of the institution, which 
was to be unsectarian in character. 

During the years 1S55 and 56, subscriptions to the amount of 
$200,000, in part payments, were obtained. Under such favorable 
prospects, the erection of a building was commenced in the fall of 
1856, on the hill east of the city, now known as Seminary Hill. On 
the first day of October, a large concourse of people, and about one 
hundred clergymen of various denominations, assembled to witness 
the laying of the corner-stone His Honor, Mayor Slocum, called 
the assemblage to order. •Prayer was then offered by Rev. Dr. 
.Smalley, which was followed by an appropriate address by Rev Dr. 
George C. Baldwin. The corner-stone was then laid. In conse- 
quence of a storm, the people re-assembled in the North Baptist 
church, and listened to other addresses pertinent to the occasion. 

The school was opened Sept. 8th, 1858, as the Troy University, 
under Rev. John McClintock, I^. I)., a; President, with about sixty 



220 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

students. In July, 1862, the first class graduated. The financial 
difficulties which embarrassed the institution began in 1857, when the 
monetary affairs of the country were straightened and business gen- 
erally prostrated. Many of the individuals who had written their 
names for large amounts, were found insolvent and wholly unable to 
pay. Various means were resorted to, to keep the institution from 
bankruptcy, and to sustain its credit. All the efforts, however, were 
unsuccessful, and the Troy University, with the adjacent land, was 
sold, in October, 1862, by Nelson Forsyth, referee in a suit by the 
Union Bank for the foreclosure of a mortgage of $11,000. The 
firm of Peck & Hillman, real estate brokers, purchased the property 
at a bid of $7,000, the aggregate sum of the liabilities being over 
$55,000, After its purchase, this firm, in a card published Dec. 2d, 
1862, stated to the people of Troy " that the Troy University can 
"be retained for the purpose for which it was intended, provided the 
citizens of Troy and vicinity come forward and make liberal sub- 
scriptions. We purchased the property expecting to hold it only a 
few days, but have held it, to our disadvantage, more than a month. 
We have paid most of the debts against it, amounting to a much 
larger amount than was supposed. There are other debts which 
will probably be paid by us. It will then have cost us nearly $60,- 
000. We have contracted to sell it at that price, provided our peo- 
ple do not come forward and redeem it the present week. The fol- 
lowing subscriptions have been made, conditional upon its being 
endowed by Daniel Drew, of New York : Mrs. Betsey A. Hart, 
$2,000; Lyman Bennett, $1,000; L. A. Battershall, $1,000; David 
Cowee, $1,000; W. L. Van Alstyne, $1,000 • Peck & Hillman, 
$1,000, and G. Howland, $500." 

This proposition not meeting with a proper response, the build- 
ings of the Troy University, together with thirty three acres of val- 
uable land, on the 6th of December, 1862, was transferred by deed 
to Rev. Peter Havermans, for the sum of $60,000, and was shortly 
afterward converted into a Provincial Theological Seminary of the 
Roman Catholic Church, under the ^pervision of Archbishop 
Hughes. 

The financial embarrassments and money crisis of the year 1857, 
caused all the banking institutions of the country to sus- 
pend specie payments. The following action was taken bv 
the Troy banks : 

" At a meeting of the representatives of the Banks of Troy and 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 22 1 

vicinity, held Wednesday morning, October 14, 1857, the following 
preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 

" Whereas, we are advised that the Banks of New York and Al- 
bany have suspended the payment of specie across their counters ; 
it is therefore 

" Resolved, That the Banks of the city of Troy and vicinity adopt 
the same measure. A. Wotkyns, Chairman. 

" Charles P. Hartt, Secretary." 

Rev. Dr. Nott, ninety-two years of age, preached in the Second 
Presbyterian church, on Sunday, February 14th, 1858 
This eminent divine was assisted to and from the pulpit by 
the officers of the church. 

In the month of July, John Morrissey, the celebrated pugilist, 
then a resident of Troy, was in training at the Abbey, m Lansing- 
burgh, for his challenged encounter with John C. Heenan, formerly 
of W^est Troy. The Troy Daily Times thus describes this cham- 
pion of the ring : 

*' He wears a pair of shoes in the morning weighing five pounds 
each, with which he walks two miles into the country and back. 
After his return he takes a row on the river of an hour's length, and 
then practices on the sand-bag and with his trainer. The evidence 
of hard work is plainly visible upon his person, and the diminished 
size to which he has been reduced, very unfavorably strikes the ob- 
server. A number of gentlemen remarked, as he came out of the 
house, that he looked ' like an ordinary sized man,' and some could 
scarcely be made to think that the person they were gazing upon 
was the redoubtable Morrissey. His features and hands are brown- 
ed by a substance which is used for hardening the flesh, and this 
alone has very much changed his whole appearance. The luxuriant 
.growth of whiskers which formerly adorned the face of the cham- 
pion is now all gone, and even the hair on his head is kept down 
close to the poll. He wore a slouched hat and quite ordinary 
clothes, and looked like a backwoodsman from Grafton, or a hardy 
helper to some farmer, tanned by exposure to the sun, and worn 
down by hard work." 

On the evening of March 17th, 1859, the land upon the edge of 
the hill east of and in the rear of St. Peter's College gave 
way and slid down upon the unfinished building, carrying 
away the central portion, leaving it little else than a shattered wreck. 
The corner stone was laid in 1858, and the contractors had complet- 



222 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

ed the building as far as the second story, and from $12,000 to 
$15,000 had been expended upon it. 

A terrific explosion of a meteor in the vicinity of Troy, on the 
morning of August nth, 1859, is thus detailed by the Troy Daily 
Times of that date : 

"About seven o'clock in the morning, while the sky was perfectly 
cloudless, while hardly a breath of air wa^ stirring, while not a sin- 
gle indication prevailed of a natural commotion of any sort what- 
ever, there was a terrific, shocking, detonating report, accompanied 
apparently by two sharp echoes. It was as if the sound had come 
from the sky, but there were no clouds, not a single indication of the 
prevalence of electricity, and that explanation could not be enter- 
tained. The force of the concussion was so great that houses were 
shaken; that persons walking in the streets felt the ground vibrate 
underneath them ; that men who had just commenced work upon 
buildings instinctively dropped their tools, and looked about to see 
what was the matter; that little children were frightened and asked 
many strange questions of their parents. All sorts of rumors pre- 
vailed, but there was no explanation of this wonderful phenomenon. 

"John P. Ball, County Clerk, residing in Pittstown, a perfectly 
honorable and reliable gentleman, stated that just after finishing his 
breakfast, while standing in his door yard, he observed a bright light 
in a southerly direction from his house, over the town of Grafton, 
and descending very rapidly to the ground in a north-westerly course. 
This was about 7.20 a. m. Mr. Ball last saw it when about half a 
mile above the earth, when it disappeared, and in a moment or more 
he heard an explosion. It was very loud and resembled thunder. 
He had previously called his family to view the meteor, and they 
all observed the light and heard the explosion. Mrs Ball insists that 
there were three separate explosions, one much louder than the 
others, and in support of the statement, Mr. Ball says he saw three 
distinct clouds of smoke in the track of the meteor, which appeared 
to be a mile or more apart. The smoke was visible for some time, 
but was finally lost to sight. The meteor appeared to be at a dis- 
tance of about twenty miles from Mr. Ball's residence, and looked 
like a large sized sky rocket. 

"It was heard at Schaghticoke, Bennington, Eagle Bridge, Green- 
bush, Schodack and other neighboring places. At Albany a stone 
fell against a barn, showing it to have been a meteor." 

The first trial of a steam fire engine was made in Troy, November 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 223 

7th, 1859, at the foot of Division street. An association had been 
formed for the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of using 
steam apparatus for service in extinguishing fires in the city of Troy; 
and to form a company for the purpose of purchasing and putting 
into effective use a good and efficient steam fire engine. This com- 
pany was organized distinct from the fire department, and controlled 
its own affairs and selected its own officers, and all property pur- 
chased was to be that of the association. The following named 
persons were some of the members of the association : Arba Read, 
E. A. Crandall, Thomas A. Tillinghast, F. Drake, C. N. Lockwood, 
E. Waters, S. W. Dauchy, William H. Young, Charles R. Richards, 
Reuben Peckham, George Babcock, John S. Holden, C. S. Warren, 
John L. G. Knox, Lawrence L. Becker, J. M. Warren, Harvey Smith, 
Willard Gay, David Cowee, John Anthony, Edward Chapin, S. S. 
Dauchy, E. Thompson Gale, W. E. Hagan, C. W. Tillinghast, C. L. 
Richards, L. L. Southwick, Joseph W, Fuller, James Morrison, Jr., 
Robert M. Taylor, William Barton, Joseph Hillman, Lewis A. Rous- 
seau, George C. Hall and D. N. Ellis. 

The engine on trial was the manufacture of Lee & Earned, of 
New York. On the 28th of March, i860, the Arba Read Steam 
Engine Co. No. i received its engine from the Amoskeag Works, of 
Manchester, N. H. On its arrival, it was drawn by a number of 
citizens to the Division street wharf, where fire was kindled under 
her boiler, and water passed through the engine for the purpose 
of cleaning it. A one and five-eighth inch pipe was attached, and 
without endeavoring to work the engine' to more than half its 
power, a stream was thrown to a distance of one hundred and sev- 
enty feet. 

The first officers of the company were elected January 9, i860. 
William Barton, President ; Lewis L. Southwick, Vice President ; 
Wm. T. Willard, Secretary: Townsend M. Vail, Treasurer; N. B. 
Starbuck, Captain. 

In October it was reported that the cost of the engine, hose, 
horses, and running expenses of the previous six months amounted 
to $6,000.03. 

The Arba Read steamer was transferred to the city on the i6th 
of August, 1861, and placed under the control of the Troy Fire De- 
partment. 

About half past three o'clock on Friday mornmg, December 30th, 
1859, in consequence of a shrinkage of the iron girders in the Union 



224 ISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Depot building, during the extreme cold weather of the two previous 
days, the walls on the north-east corner and the north end of the 
building, together with the arches and columns, fell to the ground, 
making a complete wreck of the north half of the structure. The 
south portion of the roof remained intact. 

During the winter of 1859-60 a spirit of revival spread through 
the various churches in Troy, and a large number of converts were 
added to the membership of different congregations. The daily 
Union Prayer Meetings were largely attended by the people, and 
were continued until April. The Fifth street Baptist church alone 
added one hundred and forty-four persons to its membership during 
this series of revival meetings. At one of the prayer meetings, Rev. 
Dr. Beman alluded to the moral character of the city when he be- 
caipe pastor of the First Presbyterian church, which he said " was 
no doubt due to the great revival of 1825. At that time, the popu- 
lation was about 7,000, and to the four churches, the Baptist, Meth- 
odist, Presbyterian and Episcopal, 800 persons were added." 

Among the public excitements connected with the history of 
Troy, that of the arrest of a fugitive slave named Charles 
Nalle, on Friday, April 27, i860, is quite prominent. The 
occurrence, as described by the Troy Daily Times, was as follows : 

" For the first time in ten years, during which the Fugitive Slave 
law has been in operation, an attempt was made in the city yester- 
day to execute its provisions upon an unfortunate colored man, who 
it is claimed owes service to a master in Virginia, from whom he es- 
caped more than twenty months ago. The effort v.'as unsuccessful. 
Amid more excitement and turbulence than has in many years been 
witnessed in this generally peaceful and order loving city, the slave 
was rescued from the officers of the law, and under an escort of 
those of his own color, v.ho declared their readiness to defend him, 
if necessary with their lives, hurried him off en route for Canada. 
The circumstances were as follows : 

"Charles Nalle, a bright intelligent negro, twenty-eight years of 
age, ran off from the plantation of his master Blucher W. Hasbrough, 
in Culpepper county, Va., on the 19th of October, 1858. By de- 
grees he worked and traveled northward, until he reached Troy, and 
for a time worked as a teamster, afterward with William Scram, of 
Sand Lake, and finally as a coachman for Uri Gilbert While at 
Sand Lake, Nalle unfortunately revealed his secret to a lawyer 
named Horace F, Averill, who at different times had written letters 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 225 

for him. Averill gave information to the master of Nalle's where- 
abouts. Hasbrough at once made affidavit of the clue he had of 
Nalle, and securing an agent named Henry J. Wall, sent him to 
Troy with the necessary papers for his apprehension. Arriving at 
Troy, a warrant was procured for the arrest of Nalle from Commis- 
sioner Beach, which was placed in the hands of Deputy Marshal 
Holmes, with directions to execute the same. Nalle was arrested 
by the Marshal, hand-cuffed, and hurried to the office of the U. S. 
Commissioner. William Henry, a colored man with whom Nalle 
boarded, and a personal friend of the prisoner, learning of his ar- 
rest, at once with other friends, proceeded, with Martin I. Townsend 
as their attorney, to the office of Commissioner Beach. On their 
arrival they found the case tried and a decision rendered. Martin 
I. Townsend immediately drew up the necessary papers for a writ of 
habeas corpus to take the fugitive before Judge Gould. Meanwhile 
a crowd commenced to gather upon the sidewalk in front of the 
Commissioner's office, an alarm of fire was sounded, and indications 
of the storm which was to follow manifested themselves. William 
Henry harrangued those around. He told them that in the building 
near which he stood, there was an intelligent colored man confined 
for no other crime than that of not owning himself; that he had 
been condemned, and if they looked, they would soon see him 
brought out to be carried off to the plantations of the South and 
v/hipped to death. He asked them whether they were willing to 
stand quietly by and see the thing done. As he spoke the crowd 
increased and so did the excitement. Three or four white men be- 
came conspicuous in the crowd, in urging and planning for a rescue, 
and it very soon was made evident that if the prisoner was carried 
off, it must be by force of arms. 

*' In the room with Nalle, the Commissioner and the claimants, 
were several policemen. At different periods, colored men, friends 
of the prisoner, were admitted. Outside, the stairway and hall were 
besieged by an impatient throng, anxious to obtain admission. Near 
the window opening upon State street from the hall was a somewhat 
antiquated colored woman, who at a later period became an active 
spirit of the melee. She was provided with a signal to prepare those 
on the outside for an attack, when the prisoner should be brought 
forth. For the better protection of the prisoner the whole police 
force of the city, under command of Chief Quinn was ordered to 
the scene. About four o'clock, the papers of habeas corpus were 
29 



226 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

served, which directed Marshal Hohnes to bring the body of 
Nalle before Judge Gould. In obedience to this writ, the officer, 
policemen and prisoner started to leave the room. As Chief Quinn 
was going down stairs, followed closely by Nalle, in his shirt sleeves 
and bareheaded, Marshal Holmes being upon one side of him and 
Deputy Sheriff Upham on the other, the old colored woman at the 
window gave the preconcerted signal to the crowd outside. 

"The scene became instantaneously one of great excitement. The 
moment the officers reached the sidewalk, they were surrounded by 
the crowd, the inner circle of which was composed of resolute color- 
ed men who at once commenced a vigorous attempt at rescue. The 
city policemen were soon separated from the other officers, and left 
fighting promiscuously in the midst of a crowd of perhaps two 
thousand persons, who were swaying to and fro like billows, shout- 
ing, laughing, swearing and fighting. 

" Near the corner of State and First streets, Deputy Upham was 
torn from the prisoner, while Marshal Holmes was allowed by mis- 
take to proceed with the prisoner as far as Congress street. The 
rescuers, perceiving that the prisoner was not with Deputy Upham, 
overtook Marshal Holmes, who had him in charge, when the fight 
was renewed with much bitterness. At this juncture the most con- 
spicuous person was the old colored woman, who was continually 
exclaiming, ' Give us liberty or give us death,' and with vehement 
gesticulations urging on the rescuers. Here the scene became in- 
tensely exciting. Revolvers were drawn, knives brandished, colored 
women rushed into the thickest of the fray, the venerable Moll 
Pitcher of the occasion was fighting like a demon, and the friends 
of Nalle closing upon the officers, fearless and unterrified. The 
Marshal and Deputy, maimed by blows from clubs, chisels and other 
similar weapons, were forced to abandon the prisoner ; and shortly 
afterward Chief Quinn was also compelled to release his hold upon 
Nalle. Then two picked men seized the prisoner, and ran down 
with him to the foot of Washington street, where Nalle jumped 
upon the ferry boat and was carried over to West Troy. On his ar- 
rival on the opposite side, Nalle started to run up Broadway, but 
was soon captured and taken up into the second story of a brick 
building near the ferry dock. 

" Ten minutes had hardly elapsed before the steam ferry boat, 
which had been taken by storm, landed about three hundred of the 
rescuers at West Troy, among them the ubiquitous Moll Pitcher. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 227 

The building was stormed, and the crowd rushed up into the room 
under a fire from the revolvers of the West Troy officers, seized the 
prisoner and escaped with him from the building. Nalle, with his 
devoted friends, fled down Broadway, closely followed by the crowd, 
and when near the Arsenal wall, was placed in a wagon and driven 
off westward on the Shaker road. Thus ended the rescue." 

Nalle, after his escape, was concealed in the woods near Niska- 
yuna, and afterwards removed to Amsterdam, until in May, i860, 
when, through the efforts and subscriptions of Uri Gilbert and other 
citizens of Troy, his freedom was purchased for six hundred and 
fifty dollars, and he was again at liberty to return to Troy. 

The Chicago Zouaves, Captain Elmer E. Ellsworth, colonel com- 
manding, with his company of forty-two men, arrived in Troy on 
the morning of July 12th, i860. On the following afternoon the 
company was publicly drilled, at Camp Wool, in the presence of 
Gen. John E. Wool, his Honor, Mayor Isaac McConihe, Jr., Major 
Deas, Gen. Allen, Col. Carr, and a large concourse of people. 

On the evening of Wednesday, July 25th, Hon. Stephen A. Doug- 
las, of Illinois, then the Democratic candidate for the Presidency of 
the United States, and Hon. H. S. Foote, of Mississippi, spoke from 
the balcony of the Troy House to a large assembly in front of the 
building. 

In September, i860, the articles of association* of the Troy & 
Lansingburgh Horse Railroad were filed in the office of the Secre- 
tary of State. The following persons were named therein as the 
directors of the road : Thomas Symonds, John A. Griswold, Arba 
Read, Jared S. Weed, J. C. Osgood, E. O. Eaton, William Barton, 
Leonard Smith and Miles Beach, of Troy ; Peter A. Burden, M. S. 
Van Buskirk, George A. Tally and F. B. Leonard, of Lansingburgh. 
The Common Council, on Tuesday evening, July 31, granted the com- 
pany the right of way through the city. On Monday afternoon, July 
15th, 1861, ground was broken by William Barton, the engineer of 
the company, near the Manufacturers' Bank for the road, and the 
cars began running in the summer of 1862 

A Horse Railroad Company for the purpose of making a road 
between Troy and Cohoes, was organized Feb. 11, 1862. John A. 
Griswold was chosen president. 

The reception of President Abraham Lincoln by the people of 
Troy, on the 19th of February, is thus described : " Abraham Lin- 
coln, President-elect of the United States, arrived in this city this 



2 28 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

morning at a few minutes past nine o'clock. The Central railroad 
cars brought him over the Rensselaer & Saratoga road from Albany 
via the Junction, on account of the swollen condition of the river, 
the passage across it in a boat at Albany being considered 
unsafe. The train consisted of six cars, filled with the 
suite of the President, the members of the New York Press, the 
Troy committee of arrangements, the Albany Burgesses Corps, and 
several gentlemen from Albany. The depot was filled to its utmost 
capacity by men of all parties, to do honor to the President-elect. 
There was one vast sea of heads, and the noise and enthusiasm were 
beyond description. There could not have been less than thirty thou- 
sand people present in the depot. The Hudson River car prepared 
to convey the President to New York stood on the middle track 
with a platform car covered with matiing drawn up in the rear, on 
which the reception ceremonies were to take place, in the presence 
of this vast audience. The Citizens' Corps, Capt. H. L Shields, 
•which had been ordered out to do duty, were drawn up on both 
sides of the open car, to keep back the crowd. The train ran in 
the depot to the east of the New York train, and a plank being laid 
from the rear end of the train to the platform car, Mr. Lincoln soon 
appeared upon it in company with Mayor McConihe. His appear- 
ance was the signal for applause never before equalled in this city. 
The Mayor addressed Mr. Lincoln in a brief speech, welcoming 
him not as a partizan, but as the future Chief Magistrate of thirty 
millions of people, and assuring him that he performed a pleasant 
duty in extending to him the hospitalities of the city. Mr. Lincoln 
bowed in response, and replied in brief terms. While he was speak- 
ing, his suite embarked on the Hudson River train, and Mr. Lin- 
coln, upon the conclusion of his address, was conducted by Vice 
President D. Thomas Vail, of the Troy Union Railroad Company, to 
the platform of the rear car, where, as the train moved away, he 
stood with uncovered head and bowed his acknowledgments to the 
plaudits of the people. While the train was coming over the Rens- 
selaer & Saratoga railroad bridge, a detachment of the Troy City 
Artillery fired a salute of thirty-four guns in honor of the President." 
The State Legislature, on the loth of April, 1861, passed an Act 
to incorporate * The Children's Home Society," of the city of Troy. 
The object of the corporation was to provide in the city of Troy 
a Day Home for such children as from the poverty or vice of their 
parents were fit objects of this charity, and especially for such of 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 229 

this class as were unable or unwilling to attend the ward schools, to 
instruct them in the rudiments of learning and in work; to furnish 
them a noon-day meal, if thought advisable, and to endeavor to gain 
such an influence over the children, both in school and at their own 
homes, as would tend to their moral and social elevation. While 
the above were the principal and leading objects of the society, it 
also had power in extraordinary cases, to furnish a temporary home 
for day and night to destitute children who should require such tem- 
porary shelter. 

The first trustees under under the ace of incorjjoration were 
Clarissa S. Kennedy, Eliza R. Potter, Polly And'-ews, Nancy Wins- 
low, Mabel H. Ingraham, Abigail Flagg, Emily F. Heartt, Sarah S. 
McConihe, Laura Willard, Phebe M. Buswell, Maria Prescott, Mary 
W. Barton, Catharine E. Dickerman, Anna B. Albertson, Eliza C. 
Stewart, Elizabeth A. Burrows, Lorenda S. Ingalls, Ann E. Bigelow, 
Emma Willard, Betsey Amelia Hart, Sarah B. Tibbi s, Josephine 
Read, Elizabeth H. Griswold, and Asenatn Osgood. 

This corporate body, it is said, was the first society composed 
entirely of women legally constituted by the Slate Legislature to 
conduct the concerns of its incorporation By an act passed March 
5th, 1866, the name of the Childrens Home Society of Troy was 
changed to the Day Home. 

The institution was first i;)rojected in November, 1858, from which 
time until the incorporation of the Childrens' Home, it was con- 
ducted as an Industrial School The property known as the Tibbits 
mansion, on Congress, corner of Seventh street, was purchased, 
and was formally dedicated on the 27th of June, 1861. 

The first great war meeting of 1861, was held on April i6th, in 
Harmony Hall. Hon. John A. Griswold was chosen chairman of 
the meeting. After a patriotic address from the President, a com- 
mittee, consisting of William E. Kisselburgh, Isaac McConihe, Jr., 
and R. A. Lottridge, reported a series of patriotic resolutions, in 
which it was declared that Troy would not be behind any of her 
sister cities in contributing means necessary to defend the Govern- 
ment and to maintain the permanency of its institutions ; that a regi- 
ment of volunteers would be at once formed and whose services 
would be offered to the Executive of the State to be transferred to 
the support of the Federal Government. The immense concourse 
of people who could not gain admittance to the hall, induced the 
meeting to adjourn to the Union Depot, where the large audience 



230 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

was addressed by Hon. Isaac McConihe, Jr., ]\Iartin I. Townsend, 
George W. Demers, Clarence Buel, Gen. John E. Wool, and others. 

A second large rneeting of the citizens was held on Thursday 
evening, April i8th, in Harmony Hall, to take into consideration the 
adoption of measures for raising means for the support of the fami- 
lies of volunteers. At this meeting a committee of five was appoint- 
ed to wait upon the Common Council to solicit the subscription of 
$10,000, and another committee of fifteen to digest plans to carry 
out the objects of the meeting. The Common Council in response 
to the demands of the committee unanimously voted an appropria- 
tion of $10,000 to the support of the families of volunteers. 

In regard to the war feeling and patriotic enthusiasm prevalent in 
Troy at this time, the following paragraphs from several newspapers 
illustrates the local sentiment of the people : 

" Like the Revolutionary period 'these are the times that try men's 
souls,' and the age is as glorious and patriotic as ever the world saw 
Everybody is either enlisting under the banner of the Country, 
urging others to do so, or else furnishing the means to send de- 
fenders of their Country's honor 'off to the wars.' Union cockades 
and banners are buttoned or pinned to the hats and breasts of almost 
every other man you meet." 

"The services in all the churches on Sunday (April 21st,) partook 
of the character of the times, and were warlike and patriotic. The 
lesson and epistle read in the Episcopal churches were appropriate 
to the occasion, commanding the men of war to come up, beat their 
ploughshares into swords, their pruning hooks into spears, and in- 
voked strength to the weak. Rev. Mr. Chapman of St. Paul's, Rev. 
Dr. Tucker of the Holy Cross, and the Rev. Mr. Potter, of St. 
John's, all preached patriotic discourses. In Dr. Baldwin's church, 
Rev. Mr. Axtel preached an able sermon. The Star Spangled 
Banner and Hail Columbia were played as voluntaries on the organ, 
and the congregation sang America. Rev. Mr. Robinson of the 
Park Presbyterian church also preached an eloquent discourse, and 
the congregation sang a national hymn. Rev. Peter Havermans of 
St. Mary's church preached a similar discourse, exhorting all good 
Catholics to sustain the government. An American flag was raised 
from the belfry of the church on Saturday afternoon, and now 
proudly waves from its height. At Rev. Dr. Beman's church. Prof. 
Marvin R. Vincent preached in the morning, and Rev. Mr. Johnson 
in the evening. The front of the organ was decorated with an 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 23 I 

elegant shield and the Stars and Stripes, and the front of the clock 
was emblazoned with a small flag about which were the words 'God 
save our Fatherland.' Rev. Dr. Sheldon preached an able sermon 
from the text, ' Fear God. Honor the king.' " 

Among the Roman Catholics in America, Rev. Peter Havermans 
was the first one after Bishop Wood, of Philadelphia, to raise the 
United States Flag over his church, and kept it floating from the 
belfry until the end of the war. 

On Saturday, April 20th, the citizens had subscribed ^26,000 to 
provide means of support for the families of volunteers. 

The first volunteer company offered to and accepted by the State, 
as stated in a newspaper of April 19th, was the Freeman Cadet com- 
pany, of Troy, Capt. J. W. Armitage. 

On the 24th of April, the Patriotic Women's Society of Troy was 
organized, at the house of Arba Read. The following officers were 
elected: Rev. Dr. Kennedy, President ; Rev. H. C. Potter, Vice 
President; Rev. G. H. Robinson, Secretary; Mrs. Arba Read, Treas- 
urer; Drs. Brinsmade, Bountecou and McLean, Surgical Directors; 
Mrs. Arba Read, Mrs. J. M. Francis, Mrs. Wm. E. Hagan and Mrs. 
J. S. Southwick, Collecting Committee; Mrs. P. M. Corbin, Mrs. S. 
S. Dauchy, Miss Anna Plum and Miss Mary Gilbert, Working Com- 
mittee. 

On July 9th, the Associate Relief Society of Troy Women was 
organized at the Female Seminary, and elected for officers, Mrs. 
Emma Willard, President; Mrs. Duncan Kennedy, Vice President; 
Mrs. Elias Plum, Secretary; Mrs. Isaac McConihe, Treasurer; and 
Mrs. Geprge Vail and Mrs. Jacob L. Lane, Finance Committee. 

The General Relief Association of Troy Women, was organized 
August 2d, for the purpose of furnishing hospital equipments, and 
to assist poor females by giving them employment. The officers 
were, Mrs. John Flagg, President ; Mrs. Jonathan Edwards, Vice 
President; Mrs. W. E. Hagan, Secretary; Mrs. Julia E. Haddock, 
Treasurer. 

The Troy Home Guard was organized May 13th, with the follow- 
ing officers : John A. Griswold, President ; A. B. Olin, Vice Presi- 
dent; William H. Young, Secretary; John Flagg, Treasurer; Trus- 
tees to hold property, Jonas C. Heartt, Arba Read, John B. Gale, 
George Babcock, John A. Griswold, and A. B. Olin. 

On Saturday, May 1 8th, the Second New York Regiment, enlisted 
in the city, and composed of the following officers and companies, 



232 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

embarked for the seat of war: Colonel, Joseph B. Carr; Lieutenant 
Colonel, R. Wells Kenyon ; Major, R. D. Bloss ; Adjutant, Timothy 
F. Quinn ; Quarter-Master, Charles L. McArthur; Sergeant-Major, 
Le Grand Benedict; Surgeon, Dr. Reed B. Bontecou; Assistant 
Surgeon, Dr. Le Roy McLean. 

Co. A. — Captain, J. W. Armitage ; First Lieutenant, Calvin W. 
Link; Ensign, George A. Hitchcock. 

Co. B.— Captain, W. A. Olmstead ; First Lieut., T. C. Haddock; 
Ensign, Lee Churchill. 

Co. C. — Captain, George H. Otis; First Lieut., S. D. Perkins; 
Ensign, Wm. H. Pitt. 

Co. D. — Captain, Michael Cassidy ; First Lieut., John McGuire ; 
Ensign, John McCaffry. 

Co. E. — Captain, Geo. W. Wilson ; First Lieut., John H. Quacken- 
bush ; Ensign, T. Wilson. 

Co. F. — Captain, Sidney W. Park ; First Lieut., James n.. Cross ; 
Ensign, Henry Harrison. 

Co. G. — Capt. W. B. Tibbits; First Lieut., A. Savage, Ensign, 
Thomas Sullivan. 

' Co. H.— Capt. Joseph G. McNutt; First Lieut., Thomas O'Brien; 
Ensign, Wm. McPheters. 

Co. L — Capt. Wm. McConihe; First Lieut., Joseph Laufira; En- 
sign, George Tafft. 

Co. K. — Capt. John Arts: First Lieut., Henry W. Jansen ; Ensign, 
Augustus Colby. 

The Regiment was escorted to the wharf by Boring's Band, the 
Troy Citizen's Corps, Capt. H. L. Shields, the Troy City Artillery, 
Capt. A. B. Myers, the Irish Volunteers, Capt. Fleming, the Columbia 
Guards, Capt. Evers, the Jackson Guards, Capt. Bowen, the Wool 
Guards ; Premier Engine Co. No. i, Washington Volunteers, Niagara 
Engine Co. No. 7, Franklin Hose Co., Torrent Engine Co. No. 4, 
Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3, Rough and Ready Engine Co. No. 9, 
LaFayette Engine Co. No. 10, and Joseph C. Taylor Hose Co. No. 
3, the Common Council and sixty policemen. Under this escort the 
Second Regiment left Camp Willard, and marched through the city 
to the dock, where it embarked on two barges, and was taken to 
Albany. Along the whole route, through River street to Washington 
square, and down Second street to the Court House, the line of 
march was through one dense mass of people, every window was 
thronged, and from hundreds of roof-tops and flag staffs, the stars 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 2^^ 

and stripes floated in the clear morning air. It was a sight long to 
be remembered. Seemingly the entire population of the city, men, 
women and children, had left their vocations to bid the regiment 
God speed upon its mission. At various points along the march sa- 
lutes were fired and the soldiers were loudly cheered as they passed. 
A hardy, resolute, brave looking body of men, they bore themselves 
in a manner worthy of the compliment they were receiving. Every 
one felt i)roud that Troy had been able in this hour of danger to 
respond so nobly to the Country's call. At the Court House, Judge 
Gould, in behalf of a company of patriotic young women of Troy, 
presented the regiment with a beautiful regimental flag. To Colo- 
nel Carr, a Bible was presented by Rev. J. T. Duryea, as a gift from 
the Rensselaer County Bible Society. 

"The parting at the wharf was most affecting. Wives clung to 
their husbands in a long, last, fond embrace, whispered to them 
hurried words of endearment, bade them not to forget the loved 
ones at home, on the field of battle. Grey-haired fathers and moth- 
ers pressed the hands of departing sons, and while tears streamed 
down their wrinkled cheeks, conjured their sons to behave like true 
men. Sisters kissed the brothers they loved, while other gentle wo- 
men bade adieu to those who claimed even closer relationship of 
affection." 

The circumstances under which Frank E. Brownell, of Troy, of 
Company A, shot Jackson, at the Marshall House, in Alexandria, 
Va., on'the 23d of May, io6t, were as follows : On the entrance 
of the New York Fire Zouaves into Alexandria, Col. Ellsworth, 
their commander, ascended with a party of his men to the roof of 
the Marshall House, where a secession flag was waving, and pulled 
it down from the staff". As the party were descending they met 
Jackson, the proprietor of the hotel, at the foot of the stair case. 
The stairs were winding, and the turn so abrupt that Frank E. 
Brownell, who was in the lead, came directly upon Jackson before 
either party was aware of the other's presence. Jackson immedi- 
ately raised his weapon, a double-barrelled shot gun loaded with 
slugs, to fire, when Brownell as quickly drew up his musket and 
knocked his adversary's piece downwards. Jackson thereupon 
raised his gun and quickly fired it, killing Ellsworth, who with the 
others were descending the stairs. As quickly, in time, Brownell 
fired, killing Jackson. 

- The body of Ellsworth, which was taken to Mechanicville and 
30 



234 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

interred, was received in Troy May 27tli, and carried through sev- 
eral of the streets, followed by a large funeral procession, which 
afterwards returned to the depot. 

The first Trojan soldier who fell in the war was private Daniel 
Mooney, of Capt. Geo. W, Wilson's Co. E, of Col. Carr's Second 
Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols. He was killed in an engagement at Great 
Bethel, Va. 

William Kemp was, in June, appointed Paymaster of the Second 
Regiment, William E. Kisselburgh resigning his appointment. 

The Troy manufacturers were favored by the government with 
various contracts for munitions and materials of war. W. & L. E. 
Gurley were engaged in making brass fuses for bomb shells ; Corn- 
ing, Winslow & Co. had a contract for a number of steel rifled can- 
non of the Rodman patent ; Eaton, Gilbert & Co. had large orders 
for army wagons ; Swett, Quimby & Co. for shot and shell; F. W. 
Parmenter, for ammunition wagons ; Jones & Co., for rifled brass 
cannon ; Fuller, Warren & Co., and Knight, Harrison & Paine, for 
casting mortar shells. 

The collection of tolls on the Lansingburgh Plank road was sus- 
pended on the 1 6th of August, and the toll-gate between that place 
and Troy abolished. 

Among the enlisted companies which departed for the seat of war 
during the year 1861, were the following: Capt. Clarence Buel's 
Co. E, attached to the Harris Cavalry regiment ; Captain John 
M. Landon's Co. I, 30th Regiment N. Y. S. Vols.; Capt. W. L. Lan- 
ing and Capt. A. H. Howe, First Long Island Regiment ; Capt. Riggs, 
of the Anderson Zouaves ; Capt. Samuel McConihe, of the 93d Regi- 
ment N. Y. S. Vols. 

In 1861, Congress appropriated $1,500,000 for the completion of 
one or more armor-plated, iron or steel-clad steamships or floating 
steam batteries. John A. Griswold and John F. Winslow, of this 
city, with C. S. Bushnell, of New Haven, went to Washington for the 
purpose of contracting for casing a vessel of iron, and at that 
time exhibited to the Navy Department the model of an iron-clad 
vessel of novel pattern, invented by John Ericsson. Although the 
officers of the navy received it with much favor. President Lincoln, 
when his attention was called to its examination, was so much 
pleased with the untried invention, that he at once advised the mak- 
ing of a contract for the building of such a floating battery. The 
contract, which was thereupon given, stipulated that the vessel 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 235 

should be completed within one hundred days, and should be able 
to stand the fire of the heaviest ordnance at short ranges, and bound 
the builders to a guarantee and a forfeiture in case of failure in any 
of the properties and points of the vessel as proposed. The price 
to be paid on acceptance was ^275,000. 

In October the work began on the vessel at Greenpoint, Long 
Island. The plating and portions of her machinery and other 
iron work, were made at the Rensselaer and at the Corning Iron 
Works. On January 30th, 1862, which was the one hundred and 
first working day from the time of the contract, she was launched at 
Greenpoint and named the " Monitor." On delivery to the Govern- 
ment, March 5th, she was despatched to Fortress Monroe, where 
she arrived on Friday evening, March 8th. On the 9th, the formid- 
able and unconquerable Monitor came into conflict with the rebel 
iron-clad Merrimac in Hampton Roads, where she crippled and 
compelled this destructive antagonist to retire from her terrible 
presence. 

As the news of this wonderful encounter was flashed through the 
United States, describing the combat and publishing the safety of 
Fortress Monroe, the preservation of shipping and public property 
of immense value, and the sudden destruction of the enemy's plans 
and expectations, the country was thrilled with delight, and the 
Monitor received a sudden prestige throughout the world never ac- 
corded so quickly to any vessel of war. 

The workmen, about four hundred in number, connected with the 
works of Corning, Winslow & Co. and the Rensselaer Iron Works, 
celebrated the success of the Monitor by a torch-light procession. 
On a wagon was a representation of the engagement between the 
Monitor and the Merrimac, with the likenesses of John Ericsson, 
John F. Winslow and John A. Griswold, and the printed words, 
*' Honor to whom honor is due," and those of the despatch from 
Gen. John E. Wool, the commandant at Fortress Monroe, to John 
A. Griswold, " The Monitor has saved everything inside and outside 
the Fort." 

The most destructive and devastating fire that ever occurred in 
Troy, began its fearful ravages at noon on Saturday, May 
loth, 1862. From the lengthy narrative given in an extra 
of the Troy Daily Times of Sunday, May nth, of its origin, pro- 
gress and suppression, the following condensed description is taken. 

Several locomotives had just crossed the Rensselaer & Saratoga 



'2 2,6 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

railroad bridge, when the fire broke out. It was supposed that a 
spark from one of these engines having lodged in the structure, was 
the cause of its origination. Immediately upon its discovery in the 
roof at the west end of the first bridge which rests on Centre, or 
Starbuck's Island, the alarm was given and the fire department 
turned out promptly. The wind at the time was blowing a hard 
gale from the northwest, and the fire was quickly under such head- 
way as to be uncontrollable. A steamer laid hose at the eastern 
end of the bridge, but had scarcely put on a stream of water before 
the flames drove the firemen back into the street. An effort was 
made to pull the draw open with the hope to bar the progress of 
the fire, but the attempt was unsuccessful, — the fire enveloping the 
dry wooden timbers with a sheet of flame, which rising to a height 
of fifty or sixty feet into the air, made the sight one of fearful mag- 
nificence. The truss-work became an elaborate tracery of fire from 
the Island to the draw, which soon fell flaming into the river, and 
floating with the current, endangered the boats moored to the docks 
and the lumber yards along the shore. While the fire was raging at 
the bridge, the air was filled with flying cinders and burning shingles 
which lodging on hundreds of dry roofs and exposed frame build- 
ings, quickly set them ablaze. From the river front to the eastern 
hill, the flames spread from point to point with irresistible fury, and 
with such rapidity that the people were scarcely able to escape to 
places of safety, while a number were suffocated with the dense 
smoke and burned in the streets. 

When the stores on River street first caught fire, a cloud of smoke 
was wafted into Franklin Square, which, eddied by the gale, fairly 
darkened the heavens. For a few moments the sky was almost of 
midnight darkness, and objects that were but a few paces distant 
could with difficulty be discerned. The high northwest wind swept 
the heavy clouds of smoke and the vaporous heat across the city, 
covering it as with a pall. Before the fire had been an hour and a 
half burning, it had swept directly across the city in a south-easterly 
direction, belting it from the river to the hill. It was impossible to 
have any communication between the sections separated by this tor- 
rid zone without going a mile back upon the hill. The wildest and 
most startling rumors prevailed during the interval of separation. 
In many places on the hill it was with considerable difficulty that 
the inhabitants were able to save their dwellings, even' at positions 
far north of the course in which the flames were being driven by 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



m 



the wind. The scene on Ninth street, at one time, was one of wild 
confusion and consternation, for the locality being so distant that it 
was thought to be out of danger and was left unprotected. Sudden- 
ly however a shower of burning brands fell upon the unprotected 
dwellings, which in a short time were converted into ashes. 

The most terrible feature of this awful calamity was the loss of 
human life which it involved. Notwithstanding the fire occurred at 
mid-day, and when people w^ere best prepared to guard against its 
ravages, so rapid and terrific was the spread of the flames, and so 
great the panic, excitement and confusion that prevailed, that several 
persons were overtaken and hemmed in by them, and being unable 
to escape, perished. Thomas O'Donnell, an aged blind man, living 
on Green street, above Grand Division, being alone in the house 
and helpless, was burned. Ransom S. Haight was suffocated by a 
dense volume of smoke, which surrounded him while passing along 
Seventh street, where he fell and was burned almost past identifica- 
tion. Dr. Zenas Gary, saved by his faithful wife, was fearfully burn- 
ed and died the next day at the infirmary. The remains of Mary 
Dunlop and child were also found in one of the burned buildings. 
Numerous instances of narrow escapes, of severe exposure to fire, 
and of distressful suffering, w^ere among the many incidents of the 
day. 

At the outset of the conflagration, all human means seemed in 
vain to save a solitary building that was in the track of the de- 
vouring element. As the fire sped onwards, slight changes in the 
wind decided the fate of buildings or blocks, and the efforts of the 
firemen kept it from widening its path. On River street, the Read 
and Osgood steamers stopped the fire ; on the corner of Fulton and 
Fourth streets, the Washington Volunteers checked the flames ; on 
the corner of Fifth and Broadway, the Ranken steamer and Com- 
pany No. 5 were very serviceable, and finally, in Donohue & Burge's 
carriage factory, corner of Seventh and Congress streets, the great 
conflagration ceased. 

At six o'clock in the evening, seventy-five acres of property had 
been swept over as by the hand of a destroying fiend. But it was 
fully midnight before any part of the city could be pronounced fair- 
ly out of danger. The wind by that time had moderated, and the 
fire had nearly exhausted the material upon which it had been 
feeding. 

The spectacle presented by the burning ruins at night was one of 



238 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

exceeding granduer. Viewed from Eighth street, the city seemed 
a mass of flame. Jets of fire dashed from amid the steaming mass, 
while a grand illumination overspread the rising vapor. The steady 
"puff," " puff," of the steamers, and the regular "thud," "thud," 
of the hand engines broke the stillness of the night. Thus passed 
hours, hours of unquiet, of danger, of anxiety, — the most fearful 
ordeal that Troy ever passed through. 

The number of buildings destroyed, including some of the besC 
in the city, was five hundred and seven — ej^cepting barns, out houses 
and sheds. The entire insurance was $1,000,000. The total loss 
was estimated at $3,000,000. The firemen of Albany, West Troy, 
Cohoes, Lansingburgh and Waterford, responded very promptly to 
the call for aid, and rendered noble service. The city companies, 
hand and steam, worked heroically and successfully. Among the 
principal buildings burned were the Second Presbyterian Church, 
south-east corner of Sixth and Grand Division streets ; the Scotch 
Presbyterian Church, on the east side of Seventh street, between 
Broadway and State street; the North Baptist Church, south-east 
corner of Fulton and Fifth streets; the Home Mission, east side of 
Seventh, between Broadway and State street ; the Rensselaer Poly- 
technic Institute, north side of State street, between Sixth and Sev-r 
enth streets; the Troy City Bank, south-east corner of Grand Division 
and Fourth streets ; the Orphan Asylum, on south side of Federal 
street, opposite Harrison place; the Church Asylum, west of the 
Orphan Asylum ; and the Union Railroad Depot. 

West side of River street, going southward: 

No. 377, south corner of Federal street, J. W. Jones, drugs, property of R. A. 
Flood ; 377, up stairs, Corliss & House, collar manufacturers, of R. A. Flood ; 375, 
Flood & Dunham, commission merchants and produce dealers, of R. A. Flood ; 
373, J. C. Burch, crockery ; 371, S. S. McClure, hardware, of Alsop Weed ; 369 
and 367, Weed & Converse, boots and shoes, of Alsop Weed ; 365, Silliman, Mat- 
thews & Co., forwarders ; 363, Ross & Smith, leather dealers, of Mrs. A. H. L. 
Phelps ; 361, Grant, Viall & Nutting, agricultural implements, of R. E. Silliman; 
359. 357 ^^'"i 355> °f T. McCoun estate; 351, north corner of Grand Division, 
Washington Hall, of Philip S. Dorlon ; 349, south corner of Grand Division, Au- 
gustus Lester, meat market, and 347, of J. S. Hakes ; 349, up stairs, S. II. Brown, 
machine shop ; 345, James Kenyon, liquor store, of L. Van Valkenburgh ; 343, 
Samuel Collins, groceries, of James Dana estate ; 341, R. L. & G. Drake, druggists, 
of Samuel Drake ; 339^, John Renihan, tailor, of Samuel Drake ; 339, Gates Bar- 
nard, liquor store, of Samuel Drake ; 337 and 335, Robert Green, furniture ; 333, 
E. R. Swasey & Co., vacant ; 331, Leonard Smith, furniture ; 329, George G. Arr 
iiold, liquors, of T. Edwards; 327, Van Rensselaer & Ilayward, hardware; 325 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 239 

and 323, C. ^Varner & Co., of Smith Brothers. Here the fire was stopped, but 
partially destroyed building 321, M. M. Wilson, druggist. 

East side of River, going southwardly : 

No. 378, south corner of Federal street, C. M. Halsted, druggist, of A. G. Ilal- 
sted ; 376, Dusenberry & Anthony, coffee and spices ; 374, G. M. Tibbits ; 372, 
Philip Maurer, cigars, of G. M. Tiblnts ; 370, William Gilliland, boots and shoes, 
of G. M. Tibbits; 36S, Mrs. William O'Brien, dry goods, of G. M. Tibbits ; 366, 
J. H. Warren. 

No. 6, Franklin square, C. O'Leary, saloon ; 5, Smith & Robinson, leather find- 
ings ; 3, Holton & Faulkner, groceries, of E. Ogden ; 2, of G. W. L. Smith ; i 
north corner of Grand Division, Joseph Massey, saloon, of G. W. L. Smith. 

No. 352 and 350, south corner of Grand Division, of Jacob L. Lane ; 348, L. I. 
Barney, broker, of Jacob L. Lane ; 346, C. G. &; W. M. Stevens, newsdealers, of Ja- 
cob L Lane ; 344, Percy & King, paper hangings ; 340, Theodore Griffith, dry 
goods, of T. Griffith ; 338, A. L. Ilotchkin, hats, of Joseph H. Darrow estate ; 336, 
Harrison & Hawkes, dry goods, of Joseph H. Darrow estate ; 334, S. Batchcldor, 
clothing, of John Sard ; 332, W. D. Cole, Singer sewing machines, of J. O. Mer- 
riam ; 330, up stairs, Denio & Freiot, attorneys ; 326, Ackley & Co., auction and 
commission, of W. E. Marston ; 324, E. W. Johnson, boots and shoes, of F. G. 
Meader ; 322, Walsh, Pettit & Anthony, clothing, of James Gibson; 320, Max 
Sinsheimer, dry goods ; 318, H. E. & W. Allendorph, auction store ; 316, Mrs. U. 
Miller; 314, S. O. Gleason, druggist; 312, L. Greenman, furniture. Here the fire 
was checked. East side of River street, going northwardly — 380, 382 and 384, of 
G. M. Tibbits. 

Fourth street, west side, going southwardly : 

No. 17, of J. II. Darrow estate ; 19, of John Sard ; 21, H. C. Dunham ; 23, Ed- 
ward Knowles ; 25, Sarah Knowles ; 25}, Dr. John Clapp ; 27, W. H. liegeman ; 
29, J. J. Alden ; 31, of J. O. Merriam ; 33, N. S. Vedder ; 37, Abel Bunnell, this 
house was several times on fire, and an attempt was made to blow it up. 
East side, going southwardly: 

South corner of Grand Division, Troy City Bank ; 4, J. G. McMurray ; 8, S. K. 
Stow ; 10, John Morrison ; 12, George Fry ; 14, Dr. Charles Freiot ; 16, C. E. 
Willett ; 18, B. Starbuck ; 20, Nancy C. Burrilt ; 22, J. M. Corliss ; 24, Nancy C. Eur- 
ritt ; 26, John Stevens ; 28, Mrs. Peter Allendorph; 30, II. E. Allendorph ; 34, 
T. Goldsmith. 

Fifth street, going southwardly from Grand Division street, on 
west side : 

No. 3, John L. Ostrom ; 5 and 7, Gilbert Geer ; 9, S. Shepard ; II, O. Sauls- 
bury ; 13, J. McDowal ; 15, A. D. Teachout ; 17, M. Milligan : 19, George W. 
Allen ; 21, Mrs. H. Merritt ; 23, Bolton & Finnerty ; 31, south corner of Fulton, 
Mrs. Clarissa Gurley ; 33, C. M. Hopkins; 37, Otis G. Clark ; 39 and 41, P. P. 
Stewart ; 43, A. Liney ; 45, George C. Burdett ; 47, E. Galusha ; 49, Daniel Wight ; 
L. Van Valkenburgh, corner Grand Division ; W^ J. Howes, three houses and 
shop. 

East side of Fifth street, going southward from Grand Division 
street: 



240 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

No. 2, Mrs. Ephraim Carpenter ; 4, W. D. Haight ; 6 W. L. Van Alstyne ; lo, 
L. H. Tupper ; 12, E. W. Boughton ; 14, S. W. Dana ; 16 and 18, W. D Haight ; 
20, C. B. Wildman ; 26, C. Barron ; 28, William Gurley ; 36, south of Fulton, 
William Gurley ; 44, William Ingram ; 46, C. Warner ; 48, George Andrews ; 
50, Dr. James McChesney ; 52, Harvey Smith ; 66, south of Broadway, C. W. 
Thompson ; 72, Mrs. Josiah Pierce ; 74. William Salmon ; 76, J, S. Perry, agent ; 
82, William Salmon ; 84, G. Golden, barn. 

North Second street, going northwardly from Grand Division street, 
west side • 

No. 9, J. S. Perry ; east side Michael Foley ; 16, of James Higgins estate ; west 
side, block of houses built by G. W. L. Smith, and occupied by H Hawkes, J. L 
Harrison, W. H. Gallup and John C. Blair. 

Sixth Street, going southwardly from Grand Division street, west 
side: 

No. I, R. D. Silliman ; 3, S S. McClure ; 5, A. B. Price ; 7, E. A. Peck • 9, P. 
M. Marston; 9, H. C. Sheldon; 11, J. C. Babcock ; 13, R. J. White; 15, H. 
Harris; 15, Mrs. W. A, Caldwell; 17, J. W. Fuller; 19, Jacob Jacobs; 19, 
ThomasMcEvoy ; 57, T. Murphy ; 61, P. S, Dorlon ; 63, John Daly ; 69, John 
Dunlavy ; 71, J. Skidmore ; 73, W. W. Patrick ; 75, S. G. Clements ; 77, R. Smith ; 
85, Alex McMillan , 87. Thomas Cornelius ; 89, Alex. McCall ; 91, Mrs. U Cush- 
man ; 95, Alvin Williams ; 99, Ruth Douglas. 

East side: 

No. 12, Mrs. T. Bussey ; 14, E. Lampier ; 16, Anson Atwood, J. C. Schryver; 
18, F. Thomas, E. C. Connell ; 20, Josiah Boyle ; 56, Jack Mayout ; 58, Harvey 
Smith ; 60, J. L. Van Schoonhoven ; 68 and 70, E. Ross ; 74, Lewis Tillman es- 
tate ; 90, Gertrude Waters ; 96, F. N. Mann ; loo, David Worthington ; 102, Cal- 
vin Green ; 104, A. Numan ; 106, Lyman Patchin ; Sheldon & Green's foundry ; 
Lown's carriage shop. 

North Third street, east side : 

No. 6, J. L. Van Schoonhoven ; 8, C O. Perham ; 10, O. F. Donaldson ; Old 
Wesleyan Church ; 22, H. Balcom ; 26, J. A. Seaton ; 28, Mr. Lyon ; 30, Mary 
Cronin. 

West side: 

Corner of Federal street, Abel Bunnell; 5, J. S. Perry; 15, Levi Squire; 27, 
J. Freiot ; Ostrander & Young ; Fletcher Miller. 

Seventh street, going southwardly from Grand Division street, 
west side: 

No. 7, Mrs. O. Cleveland ; 9, J. Childs estate ; 11, William Gunnison ; 13, P S. 
Coon estate; 15, John Morgan and Rufus Lape; 17, A. B. King; 25, J. G. Mc- 
Murray ; 27, Joseph C. Moss ; 29, E. W. Hydorn ; 31, Mrs. R. D. McMurray and 
George H. Freeman ; 35 and 37, J. G. McMurray ; 39 and 41, C. Otis estate ; 43, 
A. H. Sheldon ; 45, Mrs. T. M. Sampson. 47, 49 and 51, Henry Nazro ; 53, 55 
and 59, J. T. Percy ; 61, Emeline Harris ; 63, James Van Schoonhoven ; 69, N. 
Hubbell ; 71, James Curran ; 93, Mrs. D. Taylor : 99, loi and 103, Paul Albertson. 

Seventh street, going south from Grand Division, east side: 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 24 I 

No. 10, E. P. Searlc ; 12, George E. Beach ; 14 and 16, N. B. Warren Brothers ; 
18, Clementina Jones ; 20, John Barron ; 22 and 24, Augustus Lester ; 26, Joseph 
and James Freiot ; 30, Ira Ingram ; 32, William Salmon ; 34 and 36, F. N. Mann ; 
38, G. Stow ; 40, R. Cruikshank • 44, J P. Andrews ; 46, Henry Rousseau ; 50, H. 
Herrington ; 54, William Ohlen ; 56, Cliarlotte Dennis ; 58, William Mackey ; 70, 
Mrs. L. Johnson ; 76 and 78, William Ohlen ; B. T. Cushman, Ida Terrace, corner 
of State, C. D. Packard ; 88, Thomas Vandecar ; 94 and 96, William Ohlen ; 98 
and 100, George F. Moore. 
Eighth street, east side : 

No. 10, Edward McCabe ; 11, Thomas Millett ; 16, E. A. Billings; 18, Jeres 
Turk ; 28, Joseph Hausson ; 30, Ira Frazee ; 32, P. Witsell ; 38, Thomas Fletcher ; 
46, S. McCombs and Chester Brockway ; 48, Darius Allen ; 58, Pat Lawless ; 162, 
P.F. Baltimore ; 164, George H. Sagendoif ; Vanderheyden mansion, N- S.Warren 
estate. 

West side : 

No. 109, III, 113 and 115, Mary Boyle ; Ebenezer Prescott, head of Fulton 
street ; H. T. Caswell, LaFayette place ; William Cluett, corner of Fulton. 
Ninth street, west side : 

Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, H, T. Caswell. 
East side: 

Corner of Federal, David Fleming ; 13, William Carr ; iS, J. C. Cole. 
Federal street, north side: 

Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, G. M. Tibbits ; 13, Gilbert Geer ; 15, John Farrell ; 31, 
C. Lewis; 37, C. II. Burton ; 39, E. Wood ; 71, Mrs. S. S. Wager ; 73, Jere. Cro- 
nin ; 75, R. Gould ; 77, John Dunlavy ; 79, William Flack ; 81, John Cridge ; P. 
Quackcnbush, corner of North Second ; E. Warner estate, corner of Seventh 

South side* 

Ozni Piersonf Nos. 4 and 6, JohnFarrel ; 8, Patrick Keating ; 12, Rankin Steam- 
er House and Trojan Hook and Ladder, No. 3 ; 14, B. F. Gladding, Union sta- 
ble ; corner of North Second. James Brady estate. Fourth Ward House; xS and 
20, B. F Gladding; 26 and 28, II. T. Caswell; 34, R. Cruikshank; 36, Dr. 
J. A. Skilton ; 38, C. O. Perham ; 40, George R Benton ; 42, E. Bowman and R. 
II. Coventry ; 44, Ruth Bradt ; 46, T. Thurston ; 48, Mrs A. Yates ; 50, M. C. 
Haskell, 52, Church Asylum; 54, Mrs. Hannah Taft; 58, J. H. Smother. 

Grand Division street, north side : 

Nos. 7, 9 and II, P. S. Dorlon ; 13 and 15, Alsop Weed ; 19, J. C. Babcock ; 21, 
E. Bell; 23, G. B. Wallace; 25, Elizabeth B. Wilson; corner of North Second, 
Ira M. Ingram; 27, Eliza Chapman; 2g, Zenas Caiy ; 31, A. B Wallace, 33, 
George Swan; 41, J. Morrison, 43, William Dunn, 45, C. O. Perrin ; 47, 51 and 
55, Jefferson Gardner, 57, George B. Warren; 59, Rev J. N. Parker, 61, E.Ross 
and Rev. C. P. Sheldon; 63, E. Bell ; 69, D. McMurray ; 75, Almira Waterman. 

South side: 

Corner of Mechanic, N. B. Starbuck and John Hutchinson; 12, Adon Smith ; 
30, James Freiot ; 36, J. T. Dunspaugh ; 38, 40, 42 and 44, E. Dorlon ; 48, C. H. 
Bigelow ; 50, Myron King; 52, R. I. Moe. 
31 



242 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Fulton street, north side : 

No. 13, Mary Davis; 15, F. N. Mann; Gurley Block ; Johnson Block; 29, Wil- 
liam Rich; 31, G. W. Shepard; 33 and 35, J. H. Kear; 39, C. L. Prescott; Dr. 
William Van Loon; Fulton House, J. W. Stearns , Tremont House, P. Curley. 

South side: 

No. 12, J. N. Gary ; 14, Edward Knowles and G. P. Hiams ; 16, Elisha Waters; 
34, Augustus Lester ; 38, C. L. Prescott ; 42, S. Hayner. 

Broadway, north side: 

Nos. 44, 46 and 48, B. Montague; 56, S. Ballard. 

South side . 

Union House, E. D. Beach; Broadway House, Michael Aheam, 

State Street: 

Nos. 46 and 48, Thomas Cox; 56 and 58, J. B. Wilkinson ; 64, C. S. Fuller; 66, 
Maria Cushman • 68, Maria Cushman and Anthony Cole ; 53, J. P. Cushman estate. 




if "I 

' \ /"I 
i! I Viiiiii;; 1 

"liii ' 



CHAPTER X. 

From the Great Fire of 1S62 to the Fourth of July, 1876. 

A full recital of the attendant and consequent circumstances of 
the fire on the afternoon of the tenth of May, 1862, is needless. 
The varied history of this recent calamity is indelibly impressed upon 
the minds of those who were so suddenly impoverished and dispos- 
sessed of their homes, and the crowded panorama of the burning 
houses, the flying people, the smoking ruins and battling firemen, 
is freshly pictured upon the memories of the thousands who wit- 
nessed its destructive visitation. 

Tears and despondency could not recall the burned property which 
had been slowly accumulated by the incessant industry of many 
years, charity could not return homes sacred to childhood and old 
age; time and labor could not replace the heir-looms of household 
veneration; nor opportunity re-associate and blend again under 
similar circumstances the business and commercial relationship of 
the past. But words of sympathy, generous hospitality, liberal gifts 
and municipal appropriations banished the temporary gloom, gave 
shelter to the houseless, provided for the wants of the needy, and 
gave new vigor to industrial enterprise and effort. Before the close 
of the month more than fifty thousand dollars had been contributed 
by kind benefactions at home and abroad for the relief of the suffer- 
ers of the fire, which sum was largely increased during the follow- 
ing month. In the latter part of the following July, one hundred 
and eighty-one buildings were in the course of erection in the 
burnt district; and in November, six months after the fire, all the 
lots on River street, with two exceptions, which were previously 
built upon, were covered with a superior class of structures. Thus 
did energy and enterprise quickly efface the visible monuments of 
Troy's great desolating conflagration. 

The Rensselaer Institute which had been removed in April, 1834, 
from "the old Bank place," at the north of Troy to the Vanderhey- 
den mansion on the east side of Grand Division street, east of Sev- 
enth, was again removed in 1S44 to the "Infant school lot" on the 



244 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

north-east corner of Sixth and State streets. Here on the tenth of 
May, the fire destroyed all the buildings, furniture, library, cabinets, 
and records of the Board of Trustees. On the succeeding Wednes- 
day the exercises of the institution were continued to the close of 
the term, at the Troy University (now the Provincial Seminary). 
In the fall of the year rooms were fitted up in the Vail building, on 
the south-east corner of Congress and River streets, where the 
exercises of the school were conducted until the first of May, 1864, 
when the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute entered into possession 
of the land and buildings at the head of Broadway. 

The call of the Country for more men, was further answered by 
Troy's sending the One hundred and twenty-fifth Regiment of N. 
Y. S. Volunteers into the field on the thirtieth of August, 1862. 
The field and line officers of this Regiment were : 

George L. Willard, Colonel; Levin Crandell, Lieut Colonel; James 
C. Bush, Major; Elias P. Sheldon, Adjutant; L. Chandler Ball, 
Quartermaster; Rev. Joseph L. Barlow, Chaplain ; Dr. Wm. Cooper, 
Surgeon; Assistant Surgeons, Drs. H. E. Benedick and Washington 
Akin, 

Co-A.— Capt., D. E. Cornell; First Lieut., E. A. Hartshorn; 
Second Lieut., W. E. Hakes. 

Co. B. — Capt., A. B. Myers; First Lieut., Charles H. Taylor; 
Second Lieut., John Quay. 

Co. C— Capt., F. S. Esmond; First Lieut., W. H. Plumb, Jr.; Sec- 
ond Lieut., David Comiskey. 

Co. D. — Capt., S. C. Armstrong; First Lieut., T. F. Sheldon; 
Second Lieut., P. Carden. 

Co. E. — Capt., William Dimond; First Lieut., Calvin Bush; Sec- 
ond Lieut., Egbert Jolls. 

Co. F. — Capt., Nelson Penfield; First Lieut., Frank Chamberlin; 
Second Lieut., W. D. Taylor. 

Co. G. — Capt., George F. Lemon; First Lieut., W K. Newcomb; 
Second Lieut., L. H. Stevens. 

Co. H — Capt., Ephraim Wood; First Lieut., Joseph Hyde; Sec- 
ond Lieut., D. Hagadorn. 

Co, I. — Capt., E. P.Jones; First Lieut., A. Buchanan, Jr.; Second 
Lieut., E. Fink, 

Co. K.— Capt., J. V. W. Vandenburgh; First Lieut., Charles A. 
Pickett; Second Lieut., McG. Steele. 

In the latter part of September, the One hundred and sixty-ninth 



PIISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 245 

Regiment, N. Y. S. Volunteers, left Troy. The officers of this Regi- 
ment were: 

Colonel Clarence Buel; Lieut. Colonel, John McConihe; Major, 
Alonzo Alden; Adjutant, W. E. Kisselburgh; Quartermaster, S. W. 
Kinney; Surgeon, John Knowlson ; Assistant Surgeons, W. J. Skin- 
ner and P. L. Reynolds ; Chaplain, J. W Eaton. 

Co. A. — Capt., James A. Colvin; First Lieut., Jerome B. Parmen- 
ter; Second Lieut., B. N. Smith. 

Co. B. — Capt., N. Wood; First Lieut., D. P. Benson; Second 
Lieut., Michael Holmes. 

Co. C— Capt., J. PL Allen; First Lieut., F. W. Tarbell, Second 
Lieut., Charles E. Morey. 

Co. D — Capt., W. B. Coleman; First Lieut., R. O. Connor; Sec- 
end Lieut., J. H. Hughes. 

Co. F. — Caj:)t., A. D. Vaughn; First Lieut., J. F. Thompson; 
Second Lieut., Thomas D. Jellico. 

Co. G — Capt., John T. McCoun ; First Lieut., George H. Gager; 
Second Lieut., Thomas B. Eaton, 

Co. H —Capt., W. H. Wickes, First Lieut., W. S. Hartshorn; 
Second Lieut., W. H. Lyon. 

Co. L — Capt., M. Murnane; First Lieut., S. W Snyder; Second 
Lieut., Patrick Conners. 

Co. K.— Capt., D. Ferguson; First Lieut., D. J. Gary; Second 
Lieut., E. R. Smith. 

On the 1 8th of September, the Common Council authorized the 
Financial Committee to issue $25,000 in fractional notes to meet 
the business wants of the city. On the first of October the notes of 
the different denominational values were dated and signed. A rep- 
resentation of the Court House was upon the face of all the notes. 
In the fifty cent bill, it occupied the upper left hand corner diagon- 
ally opposite the City coat of arms. The figures 50 were at the 
right hand upper corner. The signature of James Thorn, Mayor, 
and A. S. Perry, Chamberlain, together with the name of the Regis- 
ter, appear upon the bills In the twenty-five cent bills, the pic- 
ture of the Court House is in the upper part of the note. The 
figures 25 are at the right, and the City coat of arms at the left of 
it. In the ten cent notes the Court House occupies the center, 
surmounted by the letters "City of Troy," which it states "will pay 
the bearer on demand ten cents, in current bank bills, when present- 



246 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

ed in sums of five dollars, at the Chamberlain's office. Troy, N. Y., 
October i, 1862." 

The Second Regiment returned and was enthusiastically received 
in Troy on the 14th of May, 1863. On the arrival of the 
Steamer Vanderbilt, Captain G. O. Tupper, conveying the 
Regiment home, 2^ feu de joie of thirteen guns was fired. The com- 
panies were mustered out May 26, 1863. 

The officers commanding were, Colonel, Sidney W. Park; Lieut.- 
CoL, Wm. Olmstead; Major, Wm. B. Tibbits; Adjutant, J. H. Fratt; 
Surgeon, LeRoy McLean; Assistants, N. H. Camp and R. F. Catlin. 

Co. A. — Capt., G. V. Boutelle, 40 men. Co. B. — Capt., J. J. Ha- 
gan, 40 men. Co. C. — Capt., John H. Quackenbush, 29 men. Co. 
D. — Capt., William G. McNulty, 39 men. Co. E. — Capt., Thomas 
Sullivan, 42 men. Co. F. — Capt., Henry Harrison, 48 men. Co. 
G. — Capt., E. T. Wilson, 28 men. Co. H. — Capt., James A. Cross, 
49 men. Co. I. — Capt., Wm. McConihe, 28 men. Co. K. — Capt., 
Joseph Egolf. 

The Regiment left Troy, May i8th, with over nine hundred men. 

The battles in which the Regiment was engaged, were as follows : 
New Market Bridge, Bethel, Capture of Norfolk, Hanover Court 
House, Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mills, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, 
Malvern Hill, Chantilly, Bristow Station, Second Bull Run, Freder- 
icksburgh, Chancellorsville. 

Among the memorable incidents connected with the prosecution 
of the war, the public demonstration made in opposition to the draft 
on Wednesday, the fifteenth of July, 1863, caused considerable ap- 
prehension of danger to the safety of person and property during 
its continuance. The local excitement on the day of its occurrence 
was very great. From a " plain statement " printed in the Daily 
Whig, the following condensed description is taken : 

" The excitement in respect to the draft, intensified by the riotous 
proceedings in New York city, culminated yesterday in a rebellious 
demonstration that involved the destruction to a large extent of the 
printing material of the Daily Times establishment. About nine 
o'clock in the morning a procession which had been formed at the 
Nail Factory, moved up into the city. Along the route, mechanics 
and laborers were notified to quit work, and solicited to join in the 
march through the streets. Storekeepers and manufacturers, appre- 
hensive of the results of the demonstration, closed the doors of 
their stores and factories, as the procession approached the locality 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



!47 



of their places of business. Along the route the number of persons 
connected with the moving body of men was constantly increased- 
As the procession passed by St. Peter's church, the bell on the tower 
was rung for an alarm of fire, which further increased the excite- 
ment. After proceeding as far as Mount Olympus, the head of the 
column turned southward. On reaching the corner of First and 
River streets, a hostile demonstration was made in front of the 
Times office, indicative of violence to the establishment. At this 
juncture, ex-Mayor John A. Griswold, Isaac McConihe, Jr., and 
other prominent citizens, in the absence of the Mayor from the city, 
expostulated with the rioters, and endeavored to persuade them to 
withdraw. Regardless of all advice and influence, the doors of the 
Times office were crushed in, a number of persons entered the 
building, and in a few moments the printing material pf the office 
was thrown into the street and destroyed, excepting the presses and 
engine, which were too substantial to be easily removed or greatly 
injured. This destruction having been accomplished, the excite- 
ment appeared to subside, as the main object of the rioters seemed 
to be a public exhibition of their anti-conscription strength, which 
had successfully defied all the ordinary means of preserving the 
peace of the city. The Whig office, from its proximity to that of 
the Times, was for a time in danger of destruction, but no concerted 
demonstration was made against it. The riotous portion of the 
crowd now gradually dispersed, falling off in groups to different sec- 
tions of the city. At different times the telegraph office, the Pro- 
vost Marshal's office, the residence of Martin I. Townsend, and 
other places, were threatened, but the expostulation of influential 
parties prevented the execution of the hostile threats. 

" The Liberty Street Presbyterian church was saved from destruc- 
tion by the prompt interference of Rev. Father Havermans and 
McDonough. The last-named priest took a position in front of the 
building, and knocked down one of the leaders of the mob. 
Through his services and the aid of other citizens, the edifice was 
saved. Rev. Peter Havermans also addressed the crowd in front of 
the Whig office, but the noise and confusion attending the spoliation 
of the Times office made his words inaudible. The following no- 
tices from John Moran, Recorder, and ex-Mayor John A. Griswold, 
were printed at the Whig office, and issued to the crowd ; 

" To prevent misapprehension, and to ascertain the facts in rela- 
tion to drafting, I have had an interview with the Provost Marshal 



248 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

this morning, and am assured that drafting for a portion of Wash- 
ington county only has taken place, and that no draft for the city of 
Troy will be had at present, nor until public notice shall be given, 
I have no hesitation in saying to the workmen of the Rensselaer 
Iron Works that I will be responsible for this statement of the case. 

Troy, July 15, 1S63. John A. Griswold." 

" Proclamation. — I am authorized by the Provost Marshal to 
inform the community that the draft is suspended in this district. I 
therefore entreat all citizens to retire to their respective places of 
business and resume their occupations, that the peace and good or- 
der of the city may not be disturbed. 

(In the absence of the Mayor.) John Moran, Recorder. 

"Dated, noon July 15th, 1S63." 

" After the demolition of the furniture, type and paper at the 
Times office, the excitement seemed gradually to abate until a re- 
port was circulated that some of the rioters had been arrested and 
lodged in jail. An attack was then made upon it and the building 
was soon in the possession of the mob, which was followed- by a gen- 
eral jail delivery. During the afternoon, stores and places of busi- 
ness were generally closed, and crowds congregated along the dif- 
ferent streets discussing the occurrences of the day and the pros- 
pects as to a restoration of law and order. The colored people fled 
from the city in terror, and found refuge at Sand Lake, Greenbush, 
Albany and other undisturbed localities. The rioters evinced a bit- 
ter hostility toward these unoffending people, and they were com- 
pelled to quit their employments and to stay away from the city un- 
til ample protection was afforded them. During the night, the riot- 
ers made an attack upon the house of Martin I. Townsend, which 
they entered, and although a portion of the furniture had been re- 
moved during the day, that which remained was destroyed or greatly 
injured. The military were called out, but no collision occurred. 
The rioters, after several demonstrations in the streets, at length 
dispersed, and quiet was restored." 

To preserve the peace of the city during the draft, and to check 
any attempt at a repetition of the riot of the fifteenth of July, seven 
hundred soldiers arrived in Troy on the steamer Francis Skiddy, on 
the morning of the thirty-first of August. As no announcement 
had been made of their coming, this sudden occupation of the city 
by a military force created no little excitement on the morning of 
its arrival. The force embraced two regiments of infantry and 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 249 

one battery, — the Third Michigan Regiment, Colonel Edward S 
Pierce, commanding; the Fifth Michigan Regiment, Lieut. Col- 
onel John Pulford, commanding ; and the Second Connecticut Ar- 
tillery, Second Lieut. Miles Green, commanding. The State Armo- 
ry was made the headquarters of the officers, and the soldiers tent- 
ed in the Court House yard. 

The draft began in the city on the morning of the fourth of Sep- 
tember, without any disturbance of the peace. 

The first battalion of the Griswold Cavalry left Troy for Staten 
Island on the thirtieth of August, 1863. The officers of the regi- 
ment were : Colonel, William B. Tibbits ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Chas. 
Fitzsimmons ; Major, George V. Boutelle. 

The first car ran over the track of the Troy and Cohoes Horse 
railroad, on Saturday, October loth, from the east side of the Rens- 
selaer & Saratoga railroad bridge to the Champlain canal. 

The First National Bank of Troy was organized Octobei 28th, 
1863. The first directors of the Bank were Thomas Coleman, Chas. 
E. Dusenberry, Richardson H. Thurman, Lyman Bennett, Otis G. 
Clark, William L. Van Alstyne, Hugh Ranken, Edward R. Swasey, 
and Charles Eddy. On the fourth of January following, the Bank 
began business at No. 218 River street, with a capital of ^200,000. 
The officers were : Thomas Coleman, President, and Richardson H. 
Thurman, Cashier. 

The Israelite Congregation, which had for some time occupied 
rooms in Wotkyns' Block, removed from that building into 
newly refitted rooms in the third story of Vail's Block, 
corner of Congress and River streets. The ceremony of dedication 
was performed on the fifth of June, 1S63. The congregation was 
known by the name of Bikur Cholim, and was under the charge of 
Rabbi Louis Neusted. The following persons were then officers 
of the society : Herman Levi, President ; Lewis Marks, Vice Presi- 
dent, and G. Lawrence, Secretary. On the twelfth of June, 1870, 
the corner-stone of the Jewish synagogue was laid, and the edifice 
was dedicated, under the name of Berith Sholom, September 22d. 
The synagogue was built on the west side of Third street, between 
Division and Ferry streets. 

On the twenty-eighth of June, 1864, General George B. McClel- 
lan was received at the Union Depot, and escorted by a large con- 
course of people, to the steamer Vanderbilt, on which he embarked. 

St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary was dedicated on the first of 



250 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

December, 1864. More than sixty bishops and priests were present. 
Archbishop McCloskey made the dedicatory address. Father Van 
der Ende, of Ghent, Holland, was the first acting President of the 
institution. It had for its territory nine dioceses, which included 
all of New York, New England and New Jersey. 

Until the twenty-seventh day of February, 1865, the Farmers' 
Bank and the Bank of Troy, had been for more than half a century 
the important financial institutions of the city. At that 
^ ^' time the stockholders entered into an arrangement for a 
consolidation of the institutions, and adopted the title of the Uni- 
ted National Bank of Troy. On the seventh day of March the 
Bank was organized with the following officers : E. Thompson Gale, 
President ; William A. Shepard, Vice President ; Tracy Taylor, 
Cashier. The first Directors were : E. Thompson Gale, J. M. War- 
ren, John L. Thompson, G. H. Cramer, Uri Gilbert, Alfonzo Bills, 
Azro B, Morgan, N. B. Squires, Wm. A. Shepard, Alonzo McCon- 
ihe, John Hobart Warren, Hanford N. Lockwood and Thomas M. 
Tibbits. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment returned home on 
the eighth of June, and were welcomed with a splendid ovation. 
The returning officers were: Joseph Hyde, Colonel, W. H. H. 
Brainard, Major ; James H. Hatch, Adjutant ; W. S. Cooper, Sur- 
geon ; W. Akin, Assistant Surgeon ; Ezra D. Simons, Chaplain ; 
George W. Jenkins, Quartermaster. 

The Troy & Albia Horse Railway Company was organized Janu- 
ary 31, 1866. The officers elected were : Edward O. Eaton, 
President; James S. Knowlson, Vice President; George B. 
Warren, Secretary, and Joseph J. Tillinghast, Treasurer. 

The Fenian invasion of the Canadian frontier, in 1866, received 
considerable support from the Irish inhabitants of Troy. On the 
first day of June a full company of one hundred men departed for 
the seat of hostilities under the command of the following officers : 
Captain, William O'Brien, formerly of the Second Regiment N. Y. 
S. Volunteers; First Lieut., John Sullivan, of the 169th Regiment ; 
Second Lieut., Thomas P. Laithe, of Cohoes, an old veteran. 

The Fenian National Congress, on the fourth of September, con- 
vened in Harmony Hall. A large number of delegates from vari- 
ous parts of the country were in attendance. F. G. Gallagher, of 
B'»iffalo, was chosen President, and John C. O'Brien, of Rochester, 
Clerk. On Sunday morning, Sept. 9, the Congress adjourned j/«^ ^/<?. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 25 I 

The Laureate Boat Club was organized June 19th, 1866. The 
first officers were : President, W. H. Doughty ; Secretary and Treas- 
urer, T.McCoun; Captain, J. A. Manning. Trustees, W. H. Dough- 
ty, A. Vail and E. R. Vail. The Club consisted of twelve members. 

The execution of Hiram Coon, for the murder of Mrs. Henry 
Laker, of Petersburgh, took place in the jail on the 2 2d of 
March, J867. ^ ^" 

The certificate of incorporation of the Troy Club was signed and 
acknowledged on the twenty-seventh day of November, 1867. The 
first managers of the society were : Jonas C. Heartt, John A. Gris- 
wold, D. Thomas Vail, E. Thompson Gale, Joseph M. Warren, Geo. 
H. Cramer, Uri Gilbert, William F. Burden, Joseph W. Fuller, Sam- 
uel M. Vail, John Hobart Warren, Miles Beach, Moses C. Green, 
G. Parish Ogden and William A. Shepard. The other officers were : 
Jonas C. Heartt, President ; E. Thompson Gale, Vice President ; 
Samuel M. Vail, Treasurer, and Thomas Buckley, Secretary. The 
spacious building on the north-west corner of Second and Congress 
street, was purchased for the use of the Club, and was fitted up and 
formally occupied on the 20th of January, 1868. 

At the close of the year 1867, it was estimated that the value of 
the buildings which had been erected during the previous twelve 
months, exceeded $1,000,000. 

In March, 1867, George A. Waters,- being engaged in the manu- 
facture of paper boxes, and having occasion to repair a wooden 
single shell boat, undertook to do so by covering the cracks with 
sheets of stout paper firmly cemented on the wood, and then finish- 
ing the surface so formed with water-proof varnish. The success of 
this attempt led him, assisted by his father, Elisha Waters, to under- 
take the experiment of making the entire skin of a light boat of 
paper. Accordingly one was built by taking a wooden shell thirteen 
inches wide and thirty feet long, as a mould, and covering the en- 
tire surface of its bottom and sides with small sheets of strong ma- 
nilla paper glued together, and superposed on each other, so that 
the joints of one layer were covered by the middle of the sheet im- 
mediately above, until a shell of paper had been formed one-six- 
teenth of an inch in thickness. The fabric thus constructed, after 
being carefully dried, was removed from the mould and fitted up 
with a suitable frame. The surface was then carefully made water- 
proof with suitable varnishes and the work was complete. The boat 
was tested on the river in the latter part of May, 1S67, and was 



252 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY- 

proven to have marked merits, such as stiffness, symmetry of the 
hull, and smoothness of the water surface. A patent was issued 
to the makers in 1868, and a re-issue May, 1669. The manufacture 
of paper boats was in this way begun in Troy. 

The corner-stone of the Eglise St. Jean Baptiste, on Second 
street, between Adams and Jefferson street, was laid with 
appropriate ceremonies on July 19th. Right Rev. Bishop 
Conroy, Vicar General E. P. Wadhams, Revs. Havermans, Keveny, 
Thebaud, Rainey, Brown, Finley, O'Connell, Collins and Galberry, 
took part in the exercises. The St. Jean Baptiste Association was 
organized in 1850. Rev. Magloire F. Furcotte was the first priest 
having charge of this congregation. The building used for worship 
in 1852 was a wooden structure on Ferry street, between First and 
Second streets. 

The corner-stone of Woodside Presbyterian church was laid on 
the i6th of September, 1868. Hon. Erastus Corning presented the 
ground, and upon it the church was erected by Henry Burden as a 
memorial to his wife, at a cost of $75,000. The congregation was 
organized on the 19th of June, 1867, under the name of the South 
Presbyterian Church of Troy, in Mechanics' Hall, by a committee 
of the Old School Presbytery of Troy, with twenty-nine members. 
On the fifteenth of July, 1869, the church was dedicated. Rev, M. 
B. Lowrie was installed the first pastor of the congregation, on the 
30th of October, 1868. 

The practical workings of the fire alarm telegraph were tested be- 
fore the city Alderman and Fire Commissioners, on the 28th of 
March, 1869. The Troy Daily Times describes the test as 
follows ; " Fire Commissioners Gurley, Ranken and Green 
assembled at the Read Steamer house, the central station of the 
telegraJDh, and the various steamer companies and the Trojan Hooks 
were gathered in their respective houses, awaiting the signal which 
was to test the promptness with which the department could be ral- 
lied at a given point in the city. Guards were posted at each steam- 
er house to see that no undue advantage was taken by the anxious 
employes in hooking up the horses, but that each steamer should be 
exactly in the position in which it ordinarily is when an alarm is not 
expected. Chief Engineer Ingram took up quarters in the Ranken 
house, First Assistant Green was stationed at the Read's, Second 
Assistant Peck at the Eddy's, and Clerk Crissey was deputed to look 
after the Osgood boys, while the fleet-footed Hooks and Volunteers 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 253 

were allowed to take care of themselves. The Common Council 
after adjournment, repaired to signal box No. 25, at the corner of 
Fifth and Congress streets, and at 4.15 o'clock Alderman Haight 
pulled the hook which sent the electric shock throughout the city. 
In from thirty to forty seconds after the alarm was given, the 
horses at each of the steamer houses were hooked up, and the vari- 
ous apparatus was on the way to the box from whence the signal 
was sounded. The Volunteers were the first to arrive, time one 
minute and a half. The Read came next, in two minutes, followed 
by the Ranken in three, the Hooks in three and a half minutes; 
the Osgood in four and a quarter, and the Eddy, which had to run 
about a mile and a quarter, in about seven minutes." Gamewell & 
Co. were the contractors for establishing the system of wires and 
batteries. 

The bill to annex the village of Lansingburgh to the city of Troy 
was vetoed by Governor Hoffman, May 17, 1869. 

The congregation of the Free Church of the Ascension was first 
formed on the 14th of February, 1S68, in the house of William Cox, 
Ida Hill, by Rev. G. H. Walsh, under the name of St. John's Free 
Mission. Services were first held in a room in the rear of the Ida 
Hill cotton mill. On the 19th of October, 1869, the corner-stone of 
the present stone structure was laid, and the church dedicated on 
the 1 8th of February, 1S71, the Right Rev. William C. Doane, D. 
D., Rev. Drs. Coit, Potter, Tucker and Clover, and the Rev. Messrs. 
Walsh, Caird, Shinn. Adams, Green, Snively, Widdemer, Chapman, 
Townsend, Brown, Hall, Carey and Olmstead were present and par- 
ticipated in the solemn services of the occasion. The church was 
erected and furnished by F. W. Farnam, as a free gift to the con- 
gregation, at a cost of $80,000. 

At the age of eighty-six years. Major General John E. Wool died 
at his residence, at two o'clock on the morning of the tenth of No- 
vember, 1869. He was a soldier of three wars, 1812, 1847, 1862, 
and in each he bore a gallant and conspicuous position. The dif- 
ferent positions he attained were severally as follows : April 13, 
1812, Captain of the Thirteenth United States Infantry; October 
13, Major of the Twenty-ninth United States Infantry, for gallant 
conduct at Queenstown; Sept. 11, 1S14, Lieutenant Colonel, for 
gallant conduct at Plattsburgh ; April, 1816, Colonel of Cavalry and 
Inspector General; April 26, 1826, Brevet Brigadier General; June 
25, 1841, Brigadier General; February 23, 1847, Brevet Major Gen- 



2 54 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

eral for distinguished services at Buena Vista; 1864, Major General 
and retired after fifty-two years of honorable service in the U. S. 
Army. The funeral obsequies on Saturday, November 13th, were 
attended by a large concourse of personal friends and a long cortege 
of distinguished military officers and organizations. During the 
morning the remains of Troy's hero lay in state in St. Paul's church. 
At 11.20 A- M. the casket containing the body, was carried to the 
chancel by Major Generals Irvin McDowell, Hunt, Arnold, Haskens, 
of the U. S. Army, Brigadier General Hagner, Major General Wil- 
liam B. Tibbits, of the U. S. Army, Commodore C. Price, U. S. 
Navy, General Brown, N. G. S. N. G., Hon. Jonas C. Heartt, Henry 
Burden and George Vail. The clergymen participating in the 
solemn services, were Revs. Drs. Potter and J. I. Tucker, Rev. 
Messrs. Mulford, Townsend, Chapman and Adams. At the conclu- 
sion of the services in St. Paul's church, the procession moved to 
Oakwood Cemetery in the following order : City Police, Captain 
Gary; Major General Carr and Staff; Twenty-fourth Regiment N. 
Y. S. N. G., Colonel Steenberg; Doring's Band; Twenty-fourth 
Regiment Drum Corps; Brigadier General Alden and Staff; Squad- 
ron of Cavalry, Captain George Schwarzman; Battery B, Captain 
I. Seymour Scott ; Carriages containing Pall Bearers and Clergy; 
the hearse, drawn by four black horses, incharge of colored 
grooms; Body guard, non-commissioned United States Regular 
Army Officers; Major General Wool's horse and orderly; Regular 
Army Band; Fifth United States Artillery; Mourners; Carriages 
containing General Meade, and other officers; Governor John T. 
Hoffman, and Staff; Officers of U. S. Army; General officers of 
Volunteers and Staffs; Common Council and City officers; Post 
Willard G. A. R.; Post McConihe G. A. R.; Independent Veteran 
Zouaves, Captain Boshart; Albany Burgesses Corps, Captain Taylor; 
Sullivan's Band; Twenty-fifth Regiment Drum Corps; Twenty-fifth 
Regiment N. Y. S. N. G. ; Tenth Regiment Drum Corps; Downing's 
Seventy-fourth Regiment Band; Tenth Regiment N. Y. S. N. G.; 
Cavalry. 

On the 28th of March, 1870, General George B. Thomas, died in 
San Francisco. The delegation of distinguished military 
personages and representatives of different western cities, 
having the body in charge, was met on the morning of April 7th, at 
Schenectady, by a committee of fifty citizens from Troy. The es- 
cort from the west consisted of General Philip H. Sheridan, Adjutant 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 255 

General Forsyth, Colonel Merrill Dr. Asche, Colonel J. P. Willard, 
Colonel Litchfield, General John Love, General George F. McGinnis, 
Major R. H. Hall, General George H. Chapman, General S. Mc- 
Clurg, General H. P, Barnett, General J. S. Parkhurst, and Major 
Steele. On the arrival of the train at the Union Depot, the remains 
were transferred to St. Paul's church. Among other distinguished 
persons present in Troy attending the funeral, were President U. S. 
Grant, with his Secretaries Generals Dent and Porter; Secretaries 
Belknap and Robeson, and Postmaster General Creswell. The Con- 
gressional delegations consisted of Senator Wilson, of Massachu- 
setts; Warner, of Alabama; Cameron, of Pennsylvania; Thayer, of 
Nebraska; and Senator Fenton, of New York; General French, 
Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate ; together with Representatives Slo- 
cum, of New York; Logan, of Illinois; Garfield, of Ohio; C. C. 
Washburne, of Wisconsin ; Stokes, of Tennessee ; Randall, of Penn- 
sylvania ; Banks, of Massachusetts ; and N. G. Ordway, of New 
Hampshire, Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives. 
Also, Generals Schofield, Roberts, McKee, Barrett, Pitcher, Fuller- 
ton, Foster, Rice, De Peyster, Barnum, Taylor, Abbott, Marshall, 
Raine, Newton and Granger. Also Major General George G. 
Meade, Brevet Major General D. B. Sackett, Paymaster Carmody, 
of the Navy, and Hon. Horatio Seymour, of Utica. Never before 
had the city so many distinguished strangers within its limits. All 
the hotels were crowded with guests, while the residences of the 
leading citizens were opened to the reception of the distinguished 
visitors. General Grant, Senator Fenton, Generals Porter and Dent 
were the guests of Hon. J. M Francis of the Troy Daily Times. 
General Sherman was received by Hon. George B. Warren, and 
Postmaster General Creswell was entertained by S. B. Saxton. The 
clergymen officiating in the services at St. Paul's church, on the 
morning of the 8th, were : Right Rev. Bishop Doane, Rev. J. L. 
Reese, of Albany ; Rev. George H. Walsh, Rev. Dr. Coit, and Rev. 
Dr. Potter, of Troy. The procession moved 'from the church in 
the following order • 

Cavalry, Capt. Schwartzman, of Albany; Gen. Woodhall, com- 
manding Third Division N. G., and staff; Twenty-fifth Regiment, 
Col. Friedlander, of Albany ; Police, Capt. Gary ; Sullivan's Band ; 
Tenth Regiment, Col. Farnsworth, Albany ; Doring's Band ; Twen- 
ty-fourth Regiment, Col. Steenberg ; Battery B, Capt. Scott; Ben- 
nington Band ; Boshart's Zouaves ; Utica Veteran Zouaves ; Utica 



256 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Citizens' Corps, Col. Davies ; Albany Burgesses Corps, Capt. Tay- 
lor ; Regular Troops, Gen. Brannan, commanding ; West Point 
Band , First Artillery Band ; Co. A of Regular Army, at Fort Col- 
umbus ; Co. M, First Artillery ; Co. D, First Artillery ; Co. A, U. 
S. Engineers ; Co. C, U. S. Engineers ; the Clergy, in carriages ; 
Hearse ; the General's horse and detail of Arsenal soldiers ; the 
pall bearers ; President Grant and Cabinet ; General Sherman, Sec- 
retary Creswell and Generals Dent and Porter, of the President's 
Staff; Com. Alden ; Mourners; Army officers ; Officers of the So- 
ciety of Cumberland ; Gen. Alden, marshal, and staff; Major Gen- 
eral McDowell and staff; Band of West Point; Band of Governor's 
Island ; the Senate committee ; the House of Representatives com- 
mittee; Governor Hoffman and staff, the State Legislature; Gen- 
erals Underwood and Hallowell ; Citizens of Indiana ; Generals 
Barnum and Avery; Mayor and Common Council of Albany; Gen- 
eral Meade's staff; officers of the Volunteer Army; Common Coun- 
cil of Troy. 

An immense concourse of people witnessed the funeral pro- 
cession, which was very long and imposing. The General was in- 
terred in Oakwood Cemetery, where now a graceful monument 
marks the place of his sepulcher. 

About nine o'clock on Wednesday night, March 23d, 1S70, Man- 
ning Vanderheyden was murdered in his barn, situated near the 
north boundary line of the city. His son-in-law, Edward B. Alex- 
ander, who had gone to the barn, rushed into the house of Nanning 
Vanderheyden, crying " murder," and directed the family to run 
up-stairs, while he went to a window in the upper story, kicked out 
the sash, and fired his revolver and a shot gun to alarm the neigh- 
bors. A neighbor to whom the servant girl had given information of 
the deed, repaired to the barn, where Nanning Vanderheyden was 
found in a dying condition with his skull crushed in. Just outside 
the building was found an iron pump handle, a mask, three gags, a 
bottle of powder and a drill. Edward B. Alexander stated that 
after he had drawn a pail of water, he followed his father-in-law, 
who had previously gone into the barn, and as he entered the build- 
ing he was met by a man who struck at him with a club, he receiv- 
ing the blow upon his arm, which he had raised to ward it off, and 
almost immediately after he felt a tingling sensation in his head, 
which on investigation was found marked, with a wound evidently 
made with a knife. The wounds of Alexander at first favored the 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 257 

supposition that he was not connected with the commission of the 
crime, but the detectives, after some days of close examination of 
the case, and the circumstances relating to it, came to the conclusion 
that Alexander himself was the murderer. On Wednesday after- 
noon, March 29, Captain Squire and Detective Hurlbut, having a 
warrant for his arrest, drove up to the Vanderheyden house, where 
Alexander resided. The suspected man, who was sitting at a win- 
dow, observing the officers approaching, at once arose, and walked 
into an adjoining bedroom, where he seized a shot gun, and placing 
the muzzle to his forehead, pulled the trigger with his foot, shooting 
himself through the head and dying instantly. At his feet lay a let- 
ter, stating that he had murdered his father-in-law, and asking the 
forgiveness of the family. 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church, built as a mission chapel 
by the congregation of the Second Street Presbyterian Church, was 
dedicated on the 23d of October, 1870, Rev. Charles E. Robinson, 
D. D., conducting the exercises. Rev. James Marshall was the 
first pastor of the congregation. The Church was the outgrowth 
of a Sunday School which was organized on the first of January, 
1869, under the superintendency of Edgar P. Schoonmaker, in a 
schoolhouse on the corner of Vail Avenue and Turner's Lane. It 
was organized on the 2d of November, 187 1, by a committee of the 
Presbytery of Troy, with forty-two members, under the name of the 
*' Westminster Presbyterian Church of Troy." The following per- 
sons were elected the first officers of the congregation : Peletiah M. 
Hutton, Edward C. Townsend and William M. Waite, Elders ; and 
Jacob Lape and Henry Wheawill, Deacons. On the 7th of Decem- 
ber following the Trustees were elected : Benjamin F. Cragin, P. M. 
Hutton, Jacob Lape, J. Lundy, H. Morrison and E. C. Townsend. 

The Griswold Opera House was destroyed by fire on the first of 
April, 1871. The building was erected on the site of the 
Troy Adelphi, which was burned on the loth of October 
1862. 

The State Legislature, on the 15th of February, 1871, passed the 
bill to incorporate the Troy Masonic Hall Association, consisting of 
George Babcock, John S. Perry, Jesse B. Anthony, George F. Sims, 
Alexander B. King, Charles Cleminshaw, Robert B. Ranken, and 
other prominent members of the order. The capital stock was 
fixed at $75,000. On the 4th of March, 1871, the association was 
fully organized with the following officers : George Babcock, Presi- 
33 



258 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY, 

dent ; John L. Flagg, Vice President ; George F. Sims, Treasurer ; 
Jesse B. Anthony, Secretary. 

The corner-stone of the new Masonic Temple, on the west side of 

Third street, between Broadway and River streets, was laid with 

appropriate ceremonies by Past Grand Commander George 

Babcock, on the afternoon of August 2d, 1871, and the 

building was dedicated April 2d, 1872. Its cost was $94,000. 

The bill to incorporate the Troy and West Troy Bridge Company 
was passed April 23, 1872. On the 6th of May following, the books 
of subscription to the capital stock were opened, and in a few days 
thereafter $380,900 had been subscribed, although the stock was 
limited by law to $150,000. On the 21st of May, the stockholders 
met and elected nine directors, and on the following day Hon. John 
A. Griswold was chosen President of the company. On the 12th of 
September work was begun on the bridge. Lamb & Donaldson re- 
ceiving the contract for the stone work and the Phillipsburgh Man- 
ufacturing Company the contract for the erection of the iron work. 
On Thursday, October ist, 1874, the Bridge was finished, at a cost 
of $350,000. 

Among the architectural structures in the city, most prominent in 
size, attractive in appearance and elaborate in decorative art, is the 
Savings Bank building on the north-east corner of Second and 
State streets. Early in the spring of 1870, the demolition of the 
old buildings on the present site of the bank was begun. During 
the succeeding five years, the foundations of the stately structure 
were laid, the strong walls were erected, and the interior decorations 
added, making it a building spacious in accommodation, and with 
few exceptions, one of the most durable and handsome edifices in 
the United States. The approximate cost of the ground and the 
erection of the building, was $535,000. The music hall, in the up- 
per part of the building, unequalled in beauty and embellishment, 
was formally opened on Monday evening, April 19th, 1875, by The- 
odore Thomas, with a grand orchestral concert. 

In December, 1874, the old Unitarian church building on Fourth 
street, near Broadway, was sold. The corner-stone of the 
new church, on the south-west corner of Fourth and State 
streets, was laid with appropriate ceremonies, on the 20th of May, 
1875. The dedicatory services occurred on the fifteenth of Decem- 
ber following. 

The corner-stone of the new City Hall, which is in course of 







^' i 



,a:!,fife:^., ^i,K©^.-e 



■^'^-cJ^^^^^C'"^ ^* \ 0' ■" ~~^ 






n ®-\ '1 






i -^^A 



n 









I*.'. 



.1 !■! ;. 






^ 



ft 



'■' «' till! ■ ■ 



^s^?;:^ 






'T, .r' 






Ir 




m 



<\ ^ v^ fdJ |=j;j 
H r III— 11 nn: fni Pil 



IIISTORV OF THE CITY OF TROY. 259 

erection on the south-east corner of Third and State streets, 
was laid by the Hon. George M. Tibbits, on the fifteenth 
day of November, 1875. 

On the afternoon of the 30th of November, 1875, the steamboat 
Sunnyside left Troy for New York. Although at the time of its 
departure ice was rapidly forming in the river, no doubts were en- 
tertained of a safe passage. As a precautionary measure, a wreck- 
ing vessel accompanied the boat beyond Albany. When in the vi- 
cinity of West Park she encountered floating ice, which began to 
impede her progress and to wear upon the boat. At last the pres- 
sure of ice broke in her hull, and she rapidly filled and sunk before 
she was able to make a landing. The place of the accident was 
about four miles north of Poughkeepsie, Eleven persons were 
drowned. 

This misfortune of the Sunnyside, entailing as it did a loss of 
more than seventy-five thousand dollars, immediately impelled the 
directors of the Troy Citizens' Steamboat Company to carry out a 
previous intention to build a larger and more excellent vessel. 
Forthwith a contract was made with John English & Son, 
of Green-ooint, L. I., to build the required boat, and with 
the Quin^ard Iron Works for an engine designed by Joseph Belknap, 
The new boat was successfully launched from the yard of the cele- 
brated builders on the first of April, 1876, and was christened the 
*' City f ^ Troy." On Thursday evening, the fifteenth of June, she 
left Pi No. 49, New York city, at 6.30 p. m., with a heavy load 
of frei^ It and a large number of passengers and invited guests, on 
her first irip to Troy. Thousands of people crowded the wharves 
early on Friday morning, and when she passed, at seven o'clock, 
the draw of the Congress street bridge, loud huzzas greeted her ar- 
rival, while salvos of cannon and a chorus of steam whistles inter- 
mingling, gave her loud welcome. 

The extreme length of the City of Troy is three hundred feet, 
and extreme width seventy-eight feet. Admirably furnished and 
fitted, and commendably ofificered with experienced and capable 
m" \ the City of Troy enters upon the line of the Citizens' Com- 
y with but few equals. One hundred and twelve large and well 
.^ntilated state-rooms, and one hundred and forty-eight comfort- 
able cabin berths, will pleasantly accommodate a large number 
of passengers, while her spacious promenade and hurricane decks 
afford abundant room for travelers to enjoy the delightful views 



26o HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

of the Hudson river by moonlight and during the early hours of 
morning. 

Among the special acts of commemoration which will distinguish 
the centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, will 
be the presentation to the municipality of Philadelphia by Henry 
Seybert, a resident of that city, of a new bell for the tower of the 
old State House, made by Meneeley & Kimberly, of Troy. The 
bell was cast at their foundry on Saturday evening, April 23d, in 
the presence of one hundred ladies and gentlemen, to whom was 
granted the particular privilege of witnessing this important opera- 
tion. A suitable excavation had been made in the ground within 
the building, and into it were lowered the immense moulds in which 
the bell was to receive its proportionate shape. A spout through 
which the molten metal was to be conveyed, was laid from the fur- 
nace to the crown of the mould. After these and other necessary 
preparations, the melted metal was permitted to flow into the ma- 
trix. Without any mishap or impediment, the bell was successfully 
cast, and was taken out, a week thereafter, compact and perfect in 
all its parts. 

The project of furnishing this bell had been entertained for a 
number of years by Henry Seybert, but the matter was held in 
abeyance until Philadelphia had been selected for the Centennial 
Exhibition. The purpose of the donor was to make the bell to 
represent, in weight, the thirteen colonies, and in composition, 
the two national struggles, the war of the Revolution and that 
of the Rebellion. One thousand pounds was the proportioned rep- 
resentation of each colony, and the composition of the metal was to 
include a number of cannon used on several notable battle-fields. 
For this purpose the Government furnished four bronze cannon ; 
two, one Union and the other Confederate, from the battle-field of 
Gettysburg ; a third, a British field-piece captured at Saratoga 
from Gen. Burgoyne, and a fourth, used by General Gates at Bemis 
Heights. The copper was from the'shores of Lake Superior. The 
purity and richness of these different metals was fully manifested in 
the superior polish of the immense surface, and the various inscrip- 
tions were brightly prominent in the beauty of their well cut letters. 
Encircling the crown are the words : " Glory to God in the highest, 
and on earth peace, good will toward men." On the waist, one 
side : " Presented to the City of Philadelphia, July 4th, 1876, for the 
belfry of Independence Hall, by a citizen," and underneath, " Me- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 26 1 

neely & Kimberly, founders, Troy, N. Y," On the waist, opposite 
side, is " 1876," and beneath, the coat of arms of the United States, 
and the motto, " E pluribus unum." Encircling the mouth is the 
inscription of the old bell, " Proclaim liberty throughout all the 
land, unto all the inhabitants thereof. — Leviticus, chapter xxv, verse 
10." Above this inscription is a circle of thirty-eight stars repre- 
senting the States. 

The Revolutionary heroes who gathered so frequently together at 
its sound to debate upon the imperilled rights of the colonies, will 
be recalled to mind, and although the old bell shall remain silent 
upon its pedestal in Independence Hall, a greater reverence will 
invest it and make it forever precious among the relics of the first 
century of the American Republic. Hushed is the sound which 
gave forth the joyful news of peace, and disenthrallment from British 
power and exaction, but the echoes will live eloquently in the new 
bell, whose first glorious mission will be to '''' proclaim Liberty through- 
out the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof." Yea, forever to 

" Ring out a slowly dying cause, 

And ancient forms of party strife ; 
Ring in the nobler modes of life, 
With sweeter manners, purer laws. 

" Ring out false pride in place and blood, 
The civic slander and the spite, 
Ring in the love of truth and right, 
Ring in the common love of good." 

The Wynants Kill, from the time that Wynant Gerritse van der 
Poel in 1674 purchased the saw mill then situated thereon, unto the 
present time, has been highly valued for its water privileges. John 
Brinkerhoff was the first person to establish upon its banks at a 
close remove from the river, a foundry and rolling mill, which after- 
wards was purchased by Erastus Corning, Sr., of Albany. By fre- 
quent enlargement, the small establishment was transformed into the 
present large and extensive mills and furnaces known for many 
years as the Albany Iron Works. 

The rolling mill on the meadow south of the Poesten Kill, erected 
by Le Grand Cannon & Co., in 1846, became, with other additional 
buildings, the property of John A. Griswold & Co., and were known 
as the Rensselaer Iron Works. These works, together with the 
Albany Iron Works, were consolidated in March, 1875, and now 
form the immense establishment of the Albany and Rensselaer Iron 



262 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

and Steel Company, of which Erastus Corning is President ; Chester 
Griswold, Vice President, Selden E. Marvin, Secretary and Treas- 
urer; James E. Walker, General Manager; and Robert W. Hunt, 
General Superintendent. 

The honor of introducing the manufacture of Bessemer Steel 
into the United States is accorded to John A. Griswold, John F. 
Winslow and A. L. Holley, of Troy. The patents of Henry Besse- 
mer and Robert Mushet were purchased in England for these par- 
ties, by A. L. Holley and Z. S. Durfee, and the first experimental 
works were started in February, 1865, and the completed new works, 
or "five-ton plant," early in 1867. 

The different establishments belonging to the Albany and Rensse- 
laer Iron and Steel Company make them the most extensive iron and 
steel works in the country. In the several departments, separately 
considered, the following manufacturing operations and productions 
are embraced. The Rensselaer Iron Works are devoted to the roll- 
ing of steel and iron rails and bars, and the manufacture of mer- 
chant iron ; the Bessemer Steel Works to casting steel ingots, and 
rolling them into blooms for rails; tue Albany Iron Works, to the 
production of merchant iron, axles, nail plate, angle and bridge 
iron ; the Star Forge, to making merchant iron and fish plates ; the 
Water Mills, to making nail plates, horse shoes and small iron ; the 
Nail mill, where nails of all sizes are still produced ; beside which 
the spike, bolt and rivet factories produce a variety of articles. 

The Company owns also the Columbia Furnace at Hudson, and a 
blast furnace at Fort Edward, in both of which are manufactured 
pig iron expressly for conversion into steel at the Bessemer Works 
in Troy. There are in use at the various mills and furnaces thirty- 
five steam engines, aggregating thirty-three hundred horse power, 
while the water mills employ the equivalent of five hundred horse 
power. Eighteen hundred workmen are employed, and the amount 
annually paid in wages averages $900,000. The yearly consumption 
of coal is upwards of one hundred and twenty thousand tons, and 
the annual production of iron and steel 90,000 tons. For the suc- 
cessful management of so vast an enterprise the most thorough bus- 
iness qualifications, together with an extended experience, is re- 
quired. In this regard Troy manufacturers have always held a pro- 
minent place in all their large industrial establishments. 

On the death of Henry Burden in 187 1, the Burden Iron Works 
became the property of his sons, who continued his immense busi- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 263 

ness under the firm name of H. Burden & Sons. The seventh day 
of December, 1867, William F. Burden died, and the ownership of 
the extensive establishments accrued to James A. and his brother 
I. Townsend Burden, the old firm name being continued. The oJd 
works located east of the river on the Wynant's Kill, are called the 
" Upper Works," and the later built furnaces, forges and rolling 
mill on the east bank of the Hudson, are named the " Lower 
Works." Connected with these several manufactories are sixty 
puddling and twenty heating furnaces, fourteen trains of rolls, three 
rotary squeezers, nine horse shoe machines, each of which can 
make sixty horse shoes per minute, twelve rivet machines, ten large 
and fifteen small steam engines, seventy boilers and the great water 
wheel previously described. These works manufacture pig and 
merchant iron, horse and mule shoes, boiler rivets and railroad 
spikes. This great business gives employment to fourteen hundred 
persons. Exclusive of pig iron, the capacity of these establish- 
ments is forty thousand tons per annum, and in the manufacture 
of horse shoes six hundred thousand kegs per annum. Besides 
being the proprietors of the Iron Works, the firm owns a hematite ore 
mine and a charcoal blast furnace in Vermont, and an interest in the 
magnetic ore mines of the Port Henry Iron Ore Company on Lake 
Champlain, and valuable coal interests in Pennsylvania. 

Another leading industry of Troy which gives employment to a 
large body of men, is the manufacture of stoves. The stove found- 
dries of Troy are very extensive, one of which may be said to be 
the largest in the world. As early as the year 1815 the manufac- 
ture of stoves was begun in Troy, and since that time it has grown 
to remarkable proportions. The great celebrity which the: various 
stoves and heating furnaces made in Troy have attained throughout 
the LTnited States and foreign lands, remarkably enhances this 
branch of its trade, and has a vast influence upon the local prosper- 
ity of the city. Troy stoves have been sent almost everywhere, 
even to the Black Sea, where they were transferred inland to the 
distance of two hundred and seventy miles on the backs of camels. 
In the year 1830, there were several stove foundries in operation in 
Troy, the combined business of which Avas estimated at $120,000 
annually. There are now twenty-three firms engaged in the manu- 
facture of stoves, whose aggregate production amounts to nearly 
$5,000,000 This immense business affords employment to more 
than two thousand persons, whose annual wages reach the large 



264 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

sum of $1,715,000. The direct capital employed in this branch 
of manufacture, is about $4,000,000. 

Troy bells, from their first manufacture by Julius Hanks imtil the 
pnesent, have obtained a special prominence, and are known every- 
where for the purity of their tone, and strength of casting. The 
firms of Jones & Co., Meneely & Co., and Meneely & Kimberly jire 
favorably known to hundreds of churches upon which are mounted 
their rich, mellow toned bells. 

The civil engineering and surveying instrument manufactory of 
W. & L. E. Gurley is the largest and most complete in its outfit in the 
country. These manufacturers enjoy a high reputation for the 
correctness and durability of their excellent instruments. 

Other manufactories for the production and fabrication of malle- 
able iron, machinery, car wheels, hosiery, cotton warps, paper, files, 
fire brick and other articles are located in Troy, and are sustained 
by an extensive patronage at home and abroad. 

The collar business in Troy is a very extensive one. The follow- 
ing description is a condensed history of this branch of Troy's man- 
ufacturing interests, and is taken from an article published in the 
Daily Press : 

** The manufacture of collars was an organized branch of busi- 
ness long before that of ready-made shirts. It was first established 
in Troy, which is now, as it has ever been, the rhief seat of their 
manufacture in the United States. In this specialty, the want of a 
sufficient number of qualified operatives was for a long time a 
serious inconvenience ; indeed, previous to the invention of the 
sewing machine, the leading collar manufacturers of Troy were 
quite unable to fill their orders, although one house alone had on 
its books the names of 1,500 young women, then actively engaged in 
stitching and sewing. 

" The credit of first applying ihe use of the sewing machine to the 
manufacture of collars and cuffs appears to be divided between 
Jefferson Gardiner and our late townsman, O. W. Edson (of the 
firm of Bennett & Edson, now Bennett, Fellows & Co.) In the year 
1855, O. W. Edson bought several machines and took them to 
his private residence, where he- instructed the girls in his employ as 
to the method of working them. As soon as they attained a fair 
amount of proficiency, he removed the machines to his business 
establisment, where they have ever since remained. He subse- 
quently applied steam power to the sewing machine. This step 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 265 

inaugurated a new era in the trade. Its advantages were seen and 
appreciated. The business competitors at once followed their ex- 
ample. The collar business largely increased, and the cost to the 
consumer proportionately diminished. In the county of Rensselaer 
alone there are now no less than five thousand sewing machines in 
use in the collar manufacture. 

" In i860, Brown & Fields introduced the paper collar manufac- 
ture into Troy. The effect of this step was at first to materially di- 
minish the sales of the linen goods, but it was soon discovered that 
this new article in the market created for itself a demand, and thus 
established, it has since retained a separate class of consumers. 
The trade at present in linen collars and cuffs is larger than it ever 
has been." 

In making linen collars and cuffs twenty-five firms are engaged. 
The wages annually paid aggregate $1,373,000 ; capital actually em- 
ployed is $1,371,000; the number of dozens produced annually, 
3,135,000. The total annual sales amount to more than four mil- 
lions of dollars. The business gives employment to nearly ten thou- 
sand women. Many of these are farmer's wives and daughters, who 
occupy their leisure hours in button-holeing, turning and stitching. 
Not only these, but a considerable number of women in comforta- 
ble circumstances in the city find this occupation an easy mode of 
supplying themselves with pocket money, many earning regularly 
from eight to twelve dollars per week. The country girls usually 
club together to present the stage driver with some gratuity, in 
consideration of which he carries in their work, collects their pay, 
and brings them back fresh work. 

The inventive skill and excellent workmanship of Troy's me- 
chanics, and the superior productions of her manufactures, early 
gained for them an enduring reputation and an extensive market. 
Troy coaches, Troy bells, Troy stoves, cars, collars, boats, horse 
shoes, nails, rails, machinery, engineering instruments, and other 
well known articles of its fabrication, are to be found in every State 
of the Union, in foreign lands, and the isles of the sea. 

Among the educational institutions of America, the Troy Female 
Seminary, while under the direction of its illustrious principal, 
Mrs. Emma Willard, had great fame, and drew around this distin- 
guished teacher the daughters of many prominent families through- 
out the United States. In later days the Rensselaer Polytechnic 
Institute stands pre-eminent among the scientific schools, and its 
34 



266 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

graduates of the past fifty years are occupying honorable and re- 
sponsible positions in the national and state governments, and are 
found in prominent places with the leading engineers of foreign 
countries. St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary, so eligibly situated 
upon the eastern hill, has become, under the management of the 
Roman Catholic Church, a seat of theological instruction of great 
reputation among the northern ecclesiastical schools. The public 
schools of Troy are distinguished for the personal fitness and men- 
tal*qualifications of the professors and teachers who intelligently 
instruct large numbers of children that attend them, and the various 
departments of each school building are furnished with the usual 
modern facilities of instruction. 

The different Church Homes, Asylums, and other eleemosynary 
institutions in the city are visible monuments of the charity and lib- 
erality of the people. 

The pastorates of the city's forty-five churches are filled by cler- 
gymen of refined culture, whose christian devotion and amiable 
solicitude for the spiritual interests of their large congregations 
have returned them the confidence and affection of their people. 

The practice of medicine and surgery, which began with Dr. 
Samuel Gale, and was followed by such distinguished individuals as 
as Dr. John Loudon, Dr. Moses Hale, Dr. Thomas C. Brinsmade 
and others, is still pursued by men whose ability and knowledge 
make them the honored compeers of their eminent predecessors 

The legal profession, which has left a long succession of brilliant 
names to adorn the records of the Troy bar, as those of Woodworth, 
Bird, Marcy, McConihe, Beach and Gould, embraces among its mem- 
bers men of extensive reading, discernment, and forensic ability. 

The editorial chairs of the three daily and two weekly newspapers 
are ably and intelligently occupied by journalists of marked experi- 
ence and talent. 

In music, the city of Troy has attained an acknowledged reputa- 
tion. Oratorios, choral and classical selections, have been rendered 
by the different associations with excellent effect, and have received 
the commendatory appreciation of large and critical audiences. 

The Young Men's Association, with its valuable library and ac- 
cessible reading rooms, has had a long and useful career. Under 
the able management of its successive officers, it has attained a 
position of great importance in the city, and continues to give pro- 
mise of more enlarged benefits and higher educative influences. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 267 

The Troy Scientific Association following its noted precursor and 
prototype, the Troy Lyceum of Natural History, has developed a 
renewed interest in scientific pursuits, and is leading the people to 
an intelligent examination of the great wonders of natural science. 

The Troy Fire Department, unexcelled in the United States for 
the completeness of its organization, and the management of its 
steam apparatus, and for its rapid control of extensive fires, make 
it one of the prominent features of the city government. * 

Within less than a century Troy has acquired a population of al- 
most fifty thousand persons. In 1790 it was a mere hamlet, contain- 
ing a cluster of houses, a small number of Dutch families, and a few 
New England emigrants. In 1795 it had become a county seat, hav- 
ing a court house, a jail, a church, and four hundred and fifty inhabi- 
tants. In 1816 it was an incorporated city with busy manufactories 
and an extensive business with the surrounding country. 

The early settlers of Troy were an acquisitive people, of strong 
prejudices and endowed with an indomitable spirit of active enter- 
prise. The nearness of their settlement to Lansingburgh, and the 
location of the village at the head of the ordinary navigation of the 
river, early placed them in an attitude inimical to the local interests 
of their more northern neighbor. These detrimental circumstances 
of character and situation were the primary causes of the jealousy 
and antagonism which early and long separated the mutual interests 
of the two aspiring villages. Their relative aims quickly evoked 
competition, but Troy with her superior advantages of situation, 
turned the tide of emigration from the open doors of the " New 
City," and concentrated the trade of the contiguous country around 
the busy centres of her own spacious warehouses. It was not long 
before Albany, early possessed of the trade of Western and North- 
ern New York, found a rival of unsuspected energy laying claim to 
it. When, after skillful planning and determined purpose, she en- 
tered the field to drive out the intruder and re-possess the land, the 
completeness of her discomfiture revealed her incompetency, and 
gave additional prestige to her daring competitor. 

Original in their enterprises, the people of Troy were subjected 
to various aspersions of adverse criticism. Although bold in concep- 
tion and almost prodigal in the use of their scanty means, the per- 
sistency of their well-directed efforts accomplished their undertak- 
ings, and obtained for them results highly beneficial. In the face 
of apparent failure, when their known poverty was an assurance of 



268 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

the success of their wealthier competitors, their harmonious unifica- 
tion and combined gifts secured to them the location of the County- 
buildings, to the great astonishment and chagrin of their over con- 
fident neighbors. When the water ways of the Erie and Champlain 
canals were first under consideration and the abettors of the under- 
taking assailed by every species of detraction, the people of Troy 
gave the project immediate support, and were among the earnest 
petitioners to the State Legislature for the passage of the necessary 
laws for the accomplishment of the great work. 

When Troy began to advocate the feasibility and the importance 
of a tunnel through the hidden depths of the Hoosac Mountain as 
a needed thoroughfare for railroad travel, the plan was deemed by 
many an absurdity, and its projectors fools. The completion of 
this stupenduous undertaking fully vindicates the character of the 
people who have seen the achievement of a work considered most 
impracticable. 

A people whose unflagging energies never drooped as they stood 
so often over the ashes of their burned homes, and viewed the im- 
palpable remains of the things which years of earnest industry had 
accumulated — who with new vigor rebuilt the waste places, and left 
no visible trace of three destructive fires — who preserved unim- 
paired through all the dark days of their misfortune, the city's 
credit and trade — these are the people whose history stirs the blood 
and ennobles humanity. 

While this retrospect of years clothes the past history of Troy 
with a brilliancy of action and of advancement rarely equalled, the 
future is already entering the open doors of the second century of 
American independence. To-day, the looth anniversary of the 
republic, the streets of Troy are thronged with patriotic people, a 
long and imposing procession is moving with cadenced step to the 
inspiring music of many bands, and the church bells and chimes are 
joyfully ringing amid the echoing sounds of booming cannon. 

What shall be the history of Troy during the succeeding years of 
the next century ? Who are to be the men to take the mantles of 
the fathers of the city's wealth and progress, and give it greater 
name and prominence ? What splendors of architecture shall be 
reared along its streets, and what busy manufactories give it riches 
and long years of prosperity ? May the noble achievements of the 
past be the tokens of greater possibilities to be written by the future 
historians of the city of Troy. 










'" Jill J i ' '1 

% ■■W M P 

i| i =*;;;;: 1' iff ■'*.: 



PRESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE OF TROY. 



John McCoun, From 

Benj amin Gorton, 

Ephraim Morgan, 

John McCoun, 

Albert Pawling, 

Edward Tylee, 

Albert Pawling, 

Edward Tylee, 

Abraham Ten Eyck, _. 

Edward Tylee, 

Abraham Ten Eyck, 

Derick Lane, 

Albert Pawling, 



om 1798 to 


1799 


" 1799 " 


1800 


" 1800 " 


1801 


" 1801 " 


1802 


" 1802 " 


1803 


" 1803 " 


1804 


" 1804 " 


1805 


" 1805 " 


1808 


" 1808 " 


1810 


" 1810 " 


1811 


" 1811 " 


1814 


" 1814 " 


1815 


" 1815 " 


1816 



Until 1806 the President was chosen from among the Trustees, 
subsequently the President of the Board of Trustees was annually 
appointed by the Governor and Council of Appointment. 



TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF TROY. 



1798 

Election held at the house of Howard Moulton May 15th, 1798. 
John McCoun, John Woodworth, Ebenezer Jones, Silas Covell, 
Benjamin Gorton. 

1799. 
Election. May 21st, 1799. 
Benjamin Gorton, John Woodworth, Ebenezer Jones, Abraham 
Ten Eyck, Albert Pawling. 

1800. 
Election May 20. 1800. 
Ephraim Morgan, Ebenezer Jones, John Woodworth, George 
Tibbits, Albert Pawling. 

1801. 
John McCoun, Ebenezer Jones, Edward Tylee. George Allen, 
John Woodworth. 

1802. 
Albert Pawling, Timothy Hutton, Aaron Lane, David Buel, Jesse 
Bacon. 

1803. 
Election. Third Tuesday in May. 
Edward Tylee, Benjamin Covell, Nathan Betts, Ruggles Hubbard, 
George Allen. 

1804. 
Election, Third Tuesday in May. 
Albert Pawling, Edward Tylee, Benjamin Covell, Jeremiah Os- 
born, George Allen. 

1805. 
Election, May 21st. 
Edward Tylee, Albert Pawling, Ebenezer Wilson, Benjamin Smith, 
Abraham Ten Eyck. 

1806 
Election, May 13th, 
ist Ward — Silas Covell; 2d — Ephraim Morgan; 3d— Townsend 
McCoun • 4th — Timothy Hutton. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 271 

1807. 
Election, May 14th 
ist Ward — Samuel Gale; 2d — Ephraim Morgan; 3d — Townsend 
McCoun; 4th — Timothy Hutton. 

1808. 
Election, Second Tuesday in May. 
ist Ward — Samuel Gale: 2d — Ephraim Morgan; 3d — Edward 
Tylee ; 4th — Timothy Hutton. 

1809. 
Election, Second Tuesday in May. 
ist Ward — Ebenezer Wilson, 2d ; 2d — Ephraim Morgan; 3d — 
Edward Tylee ; 4th — Timothy Hutton. 
1810. 
Election, Second Tuesday in May. 
ist Ward— Daniel T. Wandell ; 2d— Hugh Peebles; 3d— Hum- 
phrey Clark; 4th — Timothy Hutton. 
1811. 
Election, Second Tuesday in May. 
T St Ward — Hazard Kimberly ; 2d — Hugh Peebles; 3d — William 
Bradley; 4th — Lewis Richards, 

1812. 
Election, Second Tuesday in May. 
ist Ward — Elisha Sheldon; 2d — Hugh Peebles; 3d — William 
Bradley; 4th — Lewis Richards. 

1813. 
Election, Second Tuesday in May. 
ist Ward — Hazard Kimberly; 2d — Hugh Peebles; 3d — Esaias 
Warren 4th — Lewis Richards. 

1814. 
Election. Second Tuesday in May. 
ist Ward — Ebenezer Wilson, 2d ; 2d — Hugh Peebles ; 3d — Esa- 
ias Warren ; 4th — Stephen Ross. 

1815. 
Election Second Tuesday in May 

ist Ward — Henry Townsend; 2d — John Loudon; 3d — Esaias 
Warren, 4th — Ira Ford. 



CLERKS 

OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF TROY. 

Benjamin Gorton, From 1798 to 1800 

Benjamin Smith, " 1800 " 1804 

J. Moulton, " 1804 " 1805 

Archibald Bull, " 1805 " 1806 

Wm. M. Bliss, " 1806 " 1816 



VILLAGE TREASURERS. 



Coonradt I. Elmendorf, From 1798 to 1799 

Abraham Ten Eyck,. " i799 " 1805 

Adam Keeling, ** 1805 " 1814 

David Buel, " 1814 " 1816 



VILLAGE COLLECTORS. 

George Greenwood, From 1798 to 1811 

Edward Bigelow, " 1811 ** 1812 

George Greenwood, •* 1812 " 1813 

Leonard Reed, " 1813 *' 1814 

Elam Buel ** 1814 " 1816 



VILLAGE ASSESSORS. 



1798. 

Edward Tylee, George Allen, Anthony Goodspeed. 

1799. 
David Merritt, Benjamin Smith, George Allen. 

1800. 
Benjamin Smith, Townsend McCoun, Aaron Lane. 

1801. 
Thomas Davis, Thomas Hillhouse, Townsend McCoun. 

1802. 
Thomas Davis, Thomas Hillhouse, Townsend McCoun. 

1803. 
Benjamin Smith, John Stoughton, Jeremiah Osborn. 

1804. 
Ebenezer Jones, Ebenezer Wilson, Benjamin Smith. 

1805. 
Townsend McCoun, Daniel Merritt, Benjamin Covell. 

i8c6. 
ist Ward — Samuel Gale ; 2d — John Boardman ; 3d — Daniel 
Merritt ; 4th — Benjamin Gilbert. 

1807. 
2d Ward — Derick Lane. Other Wards, no record. 

1808. 
ist Ward — Ebenezer Wilson ; 2d — Thomas Hillhouse ; 3d — James 
Spencer; 4th — Casper Fratt. 

1809. 
ist Ward — Moses Vail; 2d — Thomas Hillhouse; 3d — James 
Spencer ; 4th — Casper Fratt. 

1810. 
ist Ward — Ebenezer Wilson; 2d — John Boardman; 3d — James 
Spencer ; 4th — Lewis Richards. 

1811. 
No record. 

35 



2 74 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

1812. 
I St Ward — George Allen ; 2d — John Boardman; 3d — Humphrey 
Clark ; 4th — Abraham Staples. 

1813. 
I St Ward — Amos Salisbury; 2d — David Buel ; 3d — James Spen- 
cer ; 4th — William A. Tylee. 

1814. 
ist Ward — Amos Salisbury; 2d — David Buel; 3d — BelaCanfield; 
4th — William Boggs. 

1815. 
ist Ward — Amos Salisbury; 2d — David Buel; 3d — Nathan 
Dauchy ; 4th — ^William Boggs. 



i 



FIRE WARDENS OF THE VILLAGE OF TROY, 



. ^ 1798. 

Benjamin Covell, Moses Vail, David Buel, George Tibbits, Daniel 
Merritt, Ebenezer Jones. 

1799. 
John Boardman. Moses Craft, Thomas Davis, Benjamin Covell, 
David Buel, Russell Lord. 

1800, 
John Boardman, Moses Craft, Adam Keelmg, Moses Doty, Na- 
thaniel Adams, Benjamin Gale. 

1801. 
South Ward — Moses Vail, Anthony Goodspeed; Middle Ward — ■ 
George Tibbits, David Buelj North Ward — Derick Lane, Philip I. 
Fellows. 

1802. 
South Ward— Samuel Gale, Samuel Taylor ; Middle Ward— Ben- 
jamin Covell, Benjamin Tibbits; North Ward — Esaias Warren, 
Casper Fratt. 

1803, 
ist Ward — Samuel Gale, Amos Salisbury; 2d — Albert Pawling, 
John Boardman; 3d — Derick Lane, Thomas Hillhouse; 4th — Cas- 
per Fratt, John B. Nazro. 

1804. 
ist Ward — Amos Salisbury, John Davis ; 2d — John Loudon, Ben- 
jamin Covell; 3d — Thomas Davis Derick Lane; 4th — Casper Fratt, 
Moses Craft. 

1805. 
ist Ward — John Bird, Amos Salisbury; 2d — Benjamin Covell, 
Francis Yvonett ; 3d — Derick Lane, Thomas Davis ; 4th — James 
Spencer, Casper Fratt. 

1806. 
No record. 



276 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

1807. 
I St Ward — Wm. S. Parker, Isaac Brinckerhoff, Jonathan Weedon ; 
2d— Derick Lane, John Loudon, Guilford D. Young; 3d — Thomas 
Davis, Nathan Bouton, Nathan Betts ; 4th — Moses Craft, Jabez 
Burrows, Lewis Richards. 

1808. 
ist Ward — William S. Parker, Jonathan Weidon, John Sampson; 
2d — George Tibbits, John Loudon, Guilford D. Young; 3d — Nathan 
Bouton, Nathan Betts, Thomas Davis ; 4th — Peleg Bragg, Thomas 
Skelding, Lewis Richards. 

1809. 
ist Ward — Jonathan Weedon, Hazard Kimberly, Wm. S. Parker; 
2d— Derick Lane, John Loudon, Consider White; 3d — Amasa 
Paine, Jededian Tracy, Gurdon Corning ; 4th — Peleg Bragg, Elisha 
Miles, Jonathan Hatch. 

iSio. 
rst Ward — William S. Parker, Samuel Gale, Hazard Kimberly; 
2d — Derick Lane, John Loudon, Consider White; 3d — Amasa Paine, 
Stephen Warren, Jedediah Tracy. 

1811. 

1st Ward — William S. Parker, James Adams, Samuel Gale, 2d — 
Derick Lane, John Loudon, Consider White ; 3d — Amasa Paine, 
Nathan Dauchy, Jedediah Tracy, 4th — James Mallory, Stephen H. 
Herrick, Gardner Craft. 

1812, 

ist Ward — James Adams, Dutcher Slason, Amos Salisbury; 2d 
— Joseph Weld, Benjamin Smith, Isaac Snedekor ; 3d — Amasa 
Paine, Hezekiah Eldridge, Nathan Dauchy ; 4th — Gardner Craft, 
James Williams, Joseph Plumb. 

1813. 

isl Ward — James Mann, James Adams, George Lent ; 2d — Asa 
Gardner, Derick Y. Vanderheyden, Joseph Weld; 3d — Amasa 
Pame, Nathan Dauchy. Hezekiah Eldridge ; 4th — Joseph Plumb, 
Jabez Burrows, Alsop Weed. 

1814. 

ist Ward — William S. Parker, George Lent, John Sampson; 2d — 
Derick Y. Vanderheyden, Joseph Weld, John Kimberly ; 3d — Amasa 
Paine, William Bradley, James Spencer ; 4th— Stephen H. Herrick^ 
Alsop Weed, Jabez Burrows. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 277 

1815. 
ist Ward— William S. Parker, George Lent, John Sampson; ad- 
Asa Gardner, Derick Y. Vanderheyden, Joseph Weld ; 3d— Amasa 
Paine, William Bradley, James Spencer; Leonard Reed, Jabez 
Burrows, Alsop Weed. 



VILLAGE FIRE ENGINEERS. 



i«o8. 
Chief Engineer — George Tibbits; ist assistant — Nathan Brown- 
son; 2d — Peleg Bragg; 3d — Jonathan Weedon. 
1809. 
Chief^onathan Weedon; ist assistant — Derick Lane; 2d — 
Amasa Paine ; 3d — Peleg Bragg. 

1810. 
Chief — Wm. S. Parker; ist assistant — Derick Lane; 2d — Amasa 
Paine ; 3d — Peleg Bragg. 

1811. 
Chief — Wm. S. Parker; ist assistant — Derick Lane; 2d — Amasa 
Paine ; 3d — James Mallory. 

1812. • 
Chief — Wm. S. Parker; ist assistant — Derick Lane; 2d — Amasa 
Paine ; 3d — James Mallory. 

1813. 
Chief — Amasa Paine ; ist assistant — James Mann; 2d — Asa Gard- 
ner; 3d — Jabez Burrows. 

1814. 
Chief — Wm. S. Parker; ist assistant — Amasa Paine; 2d — Asa 
Gardner; 3d — Jabez Burrows. 

1815. 
Chief — Wm. S. Parker; ist assistant — John Loudon ; 2d — Gurdon 
Corning ; 3d — Jabez Burrows. 



MAYORS OF TROY. 



1820 


1828 


1828 


1830 


1830 ' 


1836 


1836 


1838 


1838 


1843 


1843 


1847 


1847 


' 1850 



Albert Pawling, From 1816 to 1820 

Esaias Warren, " 

Samuel McCoun, " 

George Tibbits, " 

Richard P. Hart, '• 

Jonas C. Heartt, " 

Gurdon Corning, " 

Francis N. Mann, " 

Day O. Kellogg, " 

Hanford N. Lockwood, " Nov 

Joseph M. Warren, " 

George Gould, __ " 

Foster Bosworth, " 

Elias Plum, " Dec 

Jonathan Edwards, " 

John A. Griswold, " 1855 

Hiram Slocum,.. " 1856 

Alfred Wotkyns, " 1857 

Arba Read, " 1858 

Isaac McConihe, Jr., " i860 

George B. Warren, Jr , " 1861 

James Thorn, " 1862 

William L. Van Alstyne, " 1863 

James Thorn, " 1864 

Uri Gilbert, " 1865 

John L Flagg, " 1866 

Miles Beach, " 1868 

Uri Gilbert, " 1870 

Thomas B. Carroll, " 1871 

William Kemp, " 1873 

Edward Murphy, Jr., " 1875 



. 1850 to Nov., 1850 

., 1 850 to March, 1851 

1S51 to 1S52 

1852 " 1853 

1853 to Dec, 1853 
., 1853 to March, 1854 

1854... to -.-1855 
1856 

1857 
1858 
i860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1868 
1870 
1871 
1873 
1875 
1877 



RECORDERS OF TROY. 



William L. Marcy, From 

Amasa Paine, " 

William L. Marcy, " 

Thomas Clowes, " 

Daniel Gardner, " 

Jolin P. Cushman, " 

Henry W. Strong, " 

Abram B. Olin, " 

Job S. Olin, " 

Gilbert Robertson, Jr., — " 

Clarence Buel, " 

John Moran, " 

John Moran, '* 



1816 to 

1818 

1821 

1823 

1828 

1833 
1838 
1844 
1848 
1852 
1856 
i860 
186^ 



I»l8 
1821 
1823 
1828 

1833 
1838 
1844 
1848 
1852 
1856 
i860 
1864 
1868 



The ofifiice of Recorder was abolished by Act of the Legislature, 
April 17, 1867, to take effect January i, 1868, 



ALDERMEN. 



The following are the names of the Aldermen and of the Wards 
which they represented in the Common Councils of the City of 
Troy, from its incorporation April 12, i8i6, to 1877. 



I16. 



Ward. 


Aldermen. 


Assistants. 


I... 


..George Allen, 


Amos Salisbury. 


2... 


..Hugh Peebles, 


John Loudon. 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 


Gurdon Corning. 


4.-. 


..Stephen Ross, 


Henry Mallory. 


5--- 


..Lemuel Hawley. 




6... 


..Philip Hart, Jr. 






iJ 


517. 


I... 


..George Allen, 


Henry Swartwout. 


2... 


..Hugh Peebles, 


John Loudon. 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 


David Buel, Jr. 


4-.. 


..John Reid, 


Henry Mallory. 


5--- 


..Henry I. Tobias. 




6... 


..Nathaniel Adams. 






1818. 


I... 


..Henry Swartwout, 


Ira M. Wells. 


2 


..Hugh Peebles, 


Ebenezer Wiswall. 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 


David Buel, Jr. 


4--- 


..John Reid, 


Jared Weed. 


5--- 


..Lemuel Hawley. 




6... 


..Nathaniel Adams. 






1819. 


I... 


..Henry Swartwout, 


David S. Wendell. 


2... 


..Hugh Peebles, 


Ebenezer Wiswall. 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 


David Buell, Jr. 


4--- 


..John Reid, 


John Woodworth, Jr. 


5--- 


..Jesse Tracy. 




6... 


..Nathaniel Adams. 





36 



282 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Ward. Aldermen. 

I Henry Swartwout, 

2 Hugh Peebles, 

3 Townsend McCoun, 

4 Stephen Ross, 

5 Jesse Tracy. 

6 Nathaniel Adams. 



1820. 



Assistants. 

David S. Wendell. 
Ebenezer Wiswall. 
David Buel, Jr. 
Joseph Gary. 



1821. 



I.. 


..Henry Swartwout, 


David S. Wendell. 


2-. 


..Ebenezer Wilson, Jr., 


Elias Pattison. 


3-- 


..Townsend McCoun, 


Hugh Peebles. 


4-- 


..Stephen Ross, 


John G. Vanderheyd 


S-- 


..Jesse Tracy. 




6.. 


..Nathaniel Adams. 

1822. 




I.. 


..David S. Wendell, 


Gilbert Giles. 


2.. 


..Derick Lane, 


Jonas C Heartt. 


3-- 


..Townsend McCoun, 


Hugh Peebles. 


4-- 


.-Stephen Ross, 


Leonard Reed. 


5-- 


..Jesse Tracy. 




6.. 


..Nathaniel Adams. 

1823. 




I.. 


..David S. Wendell, 


Gilbert Giles. 


2.. 


..Benjamin Smith, 


Jonas C. Heartt. 


3-- 


..Amasa Paine,^ 


Thaddis Mead 


4-- 


..Stephen Ross, 


Leonard Reed. 


5-- 


..Jesse Tracy. 




6... 


.Stephen V. R. Schuyler. 

1824. 
.Ephraim Morgan, 




I 


Joseph Hastings. 


2 


.William Pierce, 


John Woodworth, Jr. 


3--- 


.Nathan Dauchy, 


Jeremiah Chichester. 


4... 


.Stephen Ross, 


Leonard Reed. 


5--- 


.Jesse Tracy. 




6... 


.Isaac Lovejoy. 





^825. 



I Ephraim Morgan, 

2 Isaac Snedikor, 

3 Townsend McCoun, 

I Died January, 1823. 



Israel Seymour. 
Elias Pattison. 
Jeremiah Dauchy. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



283 



Ward. Aldermen. 

4 Alsop Weed, 

5 Jesse Tracy. 

6 Abraham W. De Freest. 



1826. 



I Stephen Covell, 

2 Isaac Snedikor, 

3 Townsend McCoun, 

4 Alsop Weed, 

5 Jesse Tracy. 

6 Daniel H. Stone. 



John Lamport. 



Josiah Converse. 
Daniel Gardner. 
Jeremiah Dauchy. 
Uriah Wallace. 



[827. 



I- 


Stephen Covell, 


Josiah Converse. 


2-, 


...Isaac Snedikor, 


Calvin Warner. 


3- 


...Townsend McCoun, 


Jeremiah Dauchy. 


4- 


...Alsop Weed, 


Uriah Wallace. 


5- 


...Jesse Tracy. 




6. 


...Daniel H. Stone. 






1828. 


I- 


...Josiah Converse, 


Joseph Weld. 


2- 


...Isaac Snedikor, 


Calvin Warner. 


3- 


...Townsend McCoun, 


Jeremiah Dauchy. 


4- 


...Stephen Ross, 


Adam Smith. 


5- 


...Jesse Tracy. 




6. 


...Thomas Fenner.* 






1829. 


I. 


...Stephen Covell,^ 
William Pierce,^ 


Isaac Wellington. 


2. 


...Isaac Snedikor, 


Calvin Warner. 


3- 


...Townsend McCoun, 


Jeremiah Dauchy. 


4- 


...Stephen Ross, 


Adam Smith. 
Philip J. Brandt.4 


S- 


...Rufus R. Belknap. 




€. 


...Thomas Turner, Jr. 





1830. 

I William Kelsey, 

2 Calvin Warner, 

3 Townsend McCoun, 

134 Eleeted to fill vacancy. 2 Resigned May 19, 



Isaac Wellington. 
Henry Landon. 
Jeremiah Dauchy. 

[829. 



284 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Ward. 


Aldermen. 




Assistants. 


4... 


..Stephen Ross, 




Ebenezer Wood. 


5--- 


..Thomas Cole. 






6... 


..Oliver L. Sears. 


1831. 




1... 


..William Kelsey, 




Benjamin M. Wilson. 


2... 


..Calvin Warner, 




Henry Landon. 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 




Jeremiah Dauchy. 


4... 


..Stephen Ross, 




Ebenezer Wood. 


5--- 


. - Rufus R. Belknap. 






6... 


..Thomas Turner, Jr. 


1832. 




I... 


..Jacob Danker, 




Benjamin M. Wilson. 


2... 


..Calvin Warner, 




Henry Landon, 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 




Jeremiah Dauchy. 


4.-. 


..Stephen Ross, 




Ebenezer Wood. 


5--- 


..Hezekiah C. Arnold. 






6... 


..Philip Ford. 


1833- 




1... 


..Robert Christie, 




Lorenzo D. Caldwell, 


2._. 


. . Calvin Warner, 




Thomas Clowes. 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 




George B. Warren. 


4-.. 


..Anson Arnold, 




Ebenezer Wood. 


5--- 


..Apollos Harvey. 






6... 


..Philip Ford. 


1834. 




I... 


..Israel Seymour, 




John Silliman. 


2... 


..Calvin Warner, 




Thomas Clowes. 


3--- 


..Townsend McCoun, 




George B. Warren. 


4... 


..Anson Arnold, 




Ebenezer Wood. 


5--- 


..Thomas Knight. 






6... 


..Philip Ford. 


1835- 




I 


..Israel Seymour, 




John Silliman. 


2... 


..Calvin Warner, 




Thomas Clowes. 


3--- 


..George B. Warren, 




Jacob Dater. 


4... 


..William D. Haight, 




James Wallace. 


5--- 


..Apollos Harvey. 






6... 


..Philip Ford. 







HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



285 



1836. 



»rd. 


Aldermen. 




Assistants. 


I -- 


..Israel Seymour, 




John Silliman. 


2.. 


..James H. Wilner, 




Thomas Clowes. 


3-- 


..George B. Warren, 




Jacob Dater. 


4-- 


..James Wallace, 




Robert D. Silliman. 


5-- 


..Thomas Bumstead, Jr. 






6.. 


..Thomas Turner. 


1837- 




I.. 


..Israel Seymour, 




Ebenezer Wilson. 


2.. 


..James H. Wilner, 




Joseph Snedikor. 


3-- 


..George B. Warren, 




Ebenezer Prescott. 


4-- 


..James Wallace, 




Robert D. Silliman. 


S-- 


..Amos Robinson. 






6.. 


..David M. Defreest. 






7-- 


..Otis Sprague, 




Caleb Slade. 


8.. 


..Albert P. Heartt. 


1838. 




I.. 


..John Silliman, 




John R. Kimberly, 


2.. 


..Thomas Clowes, 




Lyman Powers, 


3-- 


..George B. Warren, 




Asa Gardner. 


4-- 


..Elias Dorlon, 




Henry Everts. 


5-- 


..Jesse Tracy. 






6.. 


..Philip Ford. 






7-- 


..Hiram Slocum, 




Oliver Boutwell. 


8.. 


..Albert P. Heartt. 


1839. 










I.. 


..John R. Kimberly, 




Leroy Mowry. 


2.. 


..Lyman Powers, 




Jairus Dickerman, 


3-- 


..George B. Warren, 




Asa Gardner. 


4-- 


..Henry Everts, 




Jonathan Childs. 


S-- 


..Thomas Bumstead, Jr. 






6.. 


..Philip Ford. 






7-- 


..Hiram Slocum, 




Titus Eddy. 


8.. 


..Moses I. Winne. 


1840. 




I -- 


..John G. Buswell, 




Ephraim S. Morgan. 


2., 


..Lyman Powers, 




Samuel G. Huntington. 


3-- 


..Asa Gardner, 




Uri Gilbert. 


4-- 


..Livy S. Stearns, 




Jonathan Childs^ 



286 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Ward. 


Aldermen. 




Assistants. 


S-- 


..Amos Robinson, 






6.. 


..Peter Barnes, 






7-- 


..Jesse Anthony, 




Thomas Symonds. 


8.. 


...John Conkey. 


1841. 




I-. 


...Moses Warren, 




Apollos Harvey. 


2.. 


...Lyman Powers, 




Samuel G. Huntington., 


3-- 


. . . Asa Gardner, 




Uri Gilbert. 


4-- 


...Henry Everts, 




Livy S. Stearns. 


5-- 


...John Rankin, 






6.. 


...Peter Barnes, 






■ 7-- 


...Thomas Symonds, 




James De Groff. 


8.. 


...Sylvester Norton, 


1842. 




I.. 


...John Barney, 




Rufus M. Townsend. 


2.. 


...Daniel Wight, 




James W. Brooks. 


3-- 


...George B. Warren, 




Uri Gilbert. 


4-- 


...Daniel G. Egleston, 




Jared S. Weed. 


5-- 


...Amos Robinson, 






6.. 


...Thomas Osgood, 






7-- 


Thomas Symonds, 




Aaron Hall. 


8.. 


...Martin I. Townsend. 


1843. 




I .. 


...Israel Seymour, 




Charles E. Brintnall. 


2.. 


...George Vail, 




Barent Van Alen, 


3- 


...Uri Gilbert, 




Samuel Kendrick. 


4-- 


...Daniel G. Egleston, 




Jared S. Weed. 


5-' 


Amos Robinson. 






6.. 


...Philip Ford. 






7-- 


Thomas Symonds, 




Hiram D. Peirce. 


8.. 


...Russell Sage. 


1844. 




I. 


...Israel Seymour, 




Charles E. Brintnall. 


2. 


...Francis N. Mann, 




Uriel Dexter. 


3- 


...Uri Gilbert, 




Samuel Kendrick. 


4- 


...Jared S, Weed, 




Lyman Bennett. 


5- 


...Jesse Tracy 2d. 






6. 


...Nathaniel Copp. 






7- 


...John S. Perry, 




Alexander Mc Coy. 


8. 


...Russell Sage. 







i 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



287 



[845. 



ard. Aldermen. 

I Charles E. Brintnall, 

2 Francis N. Mann, 

3 Samuel Kendrick, 

4 Stephen Bowman, 

5 Abraham A. Wemple. 

6 Philip Ford. 

7 John S. Perry, 

8 Russell Sage. 

I Charles E. Brintnall, 

2 Francis N. Mann, 

3 Uri Gilbert, 

4 Stephen Bowman, 

5 Joseph W. Ager. 

6 John Knowlson. 

7 Harvey Mosher, 

8 Russell Sage. 

I John C. Mather, 

2 Andrew Watrous, 

3 Uri Gilbert, 

4 James Dana, 

5 Peter Fonda. 

6 George W. Merchant. 

7 William Barton, 

8 Russell Sage. 



[846. 



1847. 



1848. 



Benjamin Hatch. 
Harvey Smith. 
William liagen. 
Elias Johnson. 



Alexander Mc Coy. 



Benjamin Hatch. 
Harvey Smith. 
William Hagen. 
Henry Everts. 



Henry S. Chichester. 



Benjamin Hatch. 
Elias Ross. 
Samuel Kendrick. 
Henry Everts. 



Thomas Bussey. 



Office of Assistant Alderman abolished, but the Fifth, Sixth and 
Eighth Wards have only one Alderman each. 



I Benjamin Hatch, 

2 Andrew Watrous, 

3 Hanford N. Lockwood, 

4 James Dana, 

5 William W. Cooper. 

6 Lewis Fellows. 

7 William Barton, 

8 Russell Sage. 



Jason J. Gillespy. 
Elias Ross. 
Harvey Smith. 
Leonard McChesney. 



Thomas Bussey, 



288: 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



1849. 



,^ard. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen, 


I.. 


...Benjamin Hatch, 


jason J. Gillespy. 


2.. 


...Elias Ross, 


Eber F. Crandall. 


3- 


...Hanford N. Lockwood, 


Harvey Smith. 


4-- 


Leonard McChesney, 


Jesse Moore. 


5-- 


...Joseph W. Ager. 




6. 


Angus Campbell. 




;-■ 


Thomas Bussey, 


Dexter Moody. 


8., 


...Russell Sage. 

1850. 




I.. 


...William F. Sage, 


John C. Mather, 


2.. 


...Eber F. Crandall, 


Joseph F. Simmons. 


3-' 


...Hanford N. Lockwood, 


Hiram Smith. 


4-. 


Harvey Mosher, 


John C. Cameron. 


5-- 


...John L. Cole, 




6.. 


James Jordan. 




7-. 


...Jacob Jacobs, 


Alexander G. Halsted. 


8.. 


Charles W. Thompson. 

1851. 




1-. 


...John N. Willard, 


Kyran Cleary. 


2.. 


...Eber F. Crandall, 


Joseph Stackpole. 


3- 


Harvey Smith, 


Hiram Smith, 


4- 


Harvey Mosher, 


William Ingram. 


5-' 


Joseph W. Ager. 




6.. 


...Winant Bennett. 




7-- 


...Alexander G. Halsted, 


James Bolton, 


8.. 


Charles W. Thompson. 

1852. 




I.. 


Lyman R. Avery, 


Foster Bosworth. 


2.. 


Joseph F. Simmons, 


Uriel Dexter, 


3-- 


Hiram Smith, 


James Forsyth. 


4- 


...George H. Starbuck, 


William Ingram. 


5 


...Joseph W. Ager. 




6.. 


...William Cooper, 




7-. 


...James Bolton, 


Alexander G. Halsted. 


8.. 


...George R. Davis, 


Jonathan Edwards, 


9-- 


...Michael Mc Grath. 




10.. 


...William Eddy. 





HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



289 



1853- 



Ward. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen. 


I... 


..Isaac McConihe, Jr. 


Leonard Haight. 


2... 


..Darius Allen, 


C. L. McArthur. 


3-- 


..Hiram Smith, 


Harvey Smith. 


4... 


..George H. Starbucks 


Volney Richmond. 


5--- 


..John M. Fonda. 




6... 


..Angus Campbell. 




7... 


..James Bolton, 


Nathan Brownson. 


8... 


..George R. Davis, 


Daniel Lucy. 


9... 


..Michael Mc Grath. 




10... 


..William Eddy. 






1854. 


I... 


..Lyman R. Avery, 


Walter J, Seymour. 


2... 


..John B. Gale, 


Darius Allen. 


3--- 


..Harvey Smith, 


Hiram Smith. 


4... 


. .Volney Richmond, 


Myron Hamblin. 


5--- 


..Edward A. Billings. 




6... 


..William Cooper. 




7--- 


..John Anthony, 


Joseph Gary. 


8... 


..John Kerr, 


Alphonzo Bills. 


9-.. 


..Michael Mc Grath. 




10... 


..Edward R. Swasey. 






1855. 


I... 


..Isaac McConihe, Jr. 


James R. Fonda. 


2... 


..Darius Allen, 


Richard H. Pattison. 


3--- 


..Hiram Smith, 


Oliver A. Arnold. 


4... 


..Henry Merritt, 


Evert Ostrander. 


5-- 


..William H. Gary, 


William C. Sherman. 


6... 


..Thomas B. Carroll, 


William Cooper. 


7... 


..James Bolton, 


Uriel Dexter. 


8... 


..John B. Kellogg, 


Edward Campion. 


9... 


..Dudley Blanchard, 


John Harrity, Sr. 


10... 


..Samuel S. Sargent, 


Russell Ingraham. 




1856. 


I... 


..Isaac N. Haight, 


James Leonard. 


2 


..Joseph Fales, 


Richard H. Pattison. 


3--- 


..Harvey Smith, 


Oliver A. Arnold. 


4--- 


..Henry Merritt, 


Gurdon B. Wallace 


5--- 


..John L. Cole, 


Peter J. Fonda. 



37 



290 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Ward. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen. 


6.. 


..Angus Campbell, 


Mark V. Thompson, 


7-- 


-.John M. Bogardus, 


William H. Jackson. 


8.. 


..Martin I. Townsend, 


Edward Campion. 


9-- 


..Thomas Norton, 


Dudley Blanchard. 


10.. 


..Russell Ingraham, 

1857. 


Abram Winne. 


I.. 


..Isaac N. Haight, 


Lyman R. Avery. 


2.. 


..Joseph Fales, 


George Tibbits. 


3-- 


..Harvey Smith, 


Thomas Coleman. 


4-- 


..Henry Merritt, 


Jeremiah D. Green. 


5-- 


..John L. Cole, 


William H. Gary. 


6.. 


..Angus Campbell, 


Mark V. Thompson, 


7-- 


..John M. Bogardus, 


John Anthony. 


8.. 


..Martin I. Townsend, 


Edward Campion. 


9-- 


..Thomas Norton, 


Dudley Blanchard. 


10.. 


..Russell Ingraham, 

1858. 


Leonard Smith. 


I.. 


..Lyman R. Avery, 


Isaac N. Haight. 


2.. 


..George Tibbits, 


Joseph Fales. 


3-- 


..Thomas Coleman, 


Harvey Smith. 


4-- 


..Jeremiah D. Green, 


Robert I. Moc. 


5-- 


..William H. Gary, 


Zebulon P. Birdsall. 


6.. 


..Mark V. Thompson, 


Archibald Hutchinson. 


7-- 


..John Anthony, 


William L, Van Alstyne. 


8.. 


..Edward Campion, 


Alonzo McConihe. 


9-- 


..Dudley Blanchard, 


Thomas Norton, 


10-- 


..Leonard Smith, 

1859. 


John Archibald. 


I-. 


..Isaac N. Haight, 


James Thorn. 


2.. 


..Joseph Fales, 


George Tibbits. 


3-- 


..Harvey Smith, 


Thomas Coleman. 


4-- 


..Robert I. Moe, 


Gurdon B. Wallace. 


5-- 


..Zebulon P. Birdsall, 


William H. Gary. 


6.. 


..Archibald Hutchinson, 


William Cooper. 


7-- 


..William L. Van Alstyne. 


John Anthony. 


8.. 


..Alonzo McConihe, 


Miles Beach. 


9-- 


-.Thomas Norton, 


Patrick Regan. 


10-. 


-.John Archibald, 


Hiram A. Ferguson. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



29] 



i860. 



Ward. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen. 


I -- 


..James Thorn, 


James McKeon. 


2.. 


..George Tibbits, 


Joseph Fales. 


3-- 


. . Thomas Coleman, 


William S. Earl. 


4-- 


.-Gurdon B. Wallace, 


William Gurley. 


5-- 


..William H. Gary, 


Zebulon P. Birdsall. 


6.. 


..William Cooper, 


Mark V. Thompson. 


7-- 


..John Anthony, 


Patrick Murphy. 


8.. 


..Miles Beach, 


Thomas McManus. 


9-- 


..Patrick Regan, 


Thomas Norton. 


10.. 


..Hiram A. Ferguson, 


Charles Eddy. 




1861. 


I-- 


-.James McKeon, 


William Donohue. 


2.. 


..Joseph Fales, 


William Madden. 


3-- 


..George H. Starbuck, 


Otis G. Clark. 


4-- 


..William Gurley, 


Gurdon B. Wallace. 


5-- 


..Zebulon P. Birdsall, 


William C. Badeau. 


6.. 


..Mark V. Thompson, 


George S. Bord. 


7-- 


..Patrick Murphy, 


Hugh Ranken. 


8.. 


..Thomas McManus, 


James Fleming. 


9-- 


..Thomas Norton, 


Patrick Regan. 


10.. 


..Charles Eddy, 


John L. Messer. 




1862. 


I-. 


..William Donohue, 


James McKeon . 


2.. 


..William Madden, 


Joseph Fales. 


3-- 


..Otis G.Clark, 


George H. Starbuck. 


4-- 


..Gurdon B. Wallace, 


W^illiam Gurley, 


5-- 


..William C. Badeau, 


John B. Gary. 


6.. 


..George S. Bord, 


Robert T. Smart. 


7-- 


..Hugh Ranken, 


Michael Fitzgerald 


8.. 


..James Fleming, 


Thomas McManus. 


9-- 


..Patrick Regan, 


John J. Grace. 


10.. 


..John L. Messer, 


Charles Eddy. 




1863. 


I.. 


..James McKeon, 


John- Stanton. 


2.. 


..Joseph Fales, 


Malcolm G. Crawford. 


3-- 


.-George H. Starbuck, 


James R. Prentice. 


4-- 


..William Gurley, 


^ Jeremiah D. Green. 



292 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



^-ird. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen. 


5-- 


...John B. Gary, 


William J. Ranken. 


6.. 


...Robert T. Smart, 


George S. Bord. 


7-- 


Michael Fitzgerald, 


Lawrence Van Valkenburgh. 


8.. 


Thomas McManus, 


James Fleming. 


9- 


John J. Grace, 


Patrick Regan. 


lO. 


Charles Eddy, 

1864. 


Titus E. Eddy. 


I . 


...John Stanton, 


Edward Murphy, Jr. 


2. 


...Malcolm G. Crawford, 


Joseph Fales. 


3- 


...James R. Prentice, 


George H. Starbuck. - 


4- 


...Jeremiah D. Green, 


Robert Morris. 


5- 


...William J. Ranken, 


Thomas T. Hislop. 


6. 


. --George S. Bord, 


Robert T. Smart. 


7- 


...Lawrence Van Valkenburgh, 


Michael Fitzgerald. 


8. 


...James Fleming, 


Thomas McManus 


9- 


Patrick Regan, 


Thomas Norton. 


lO. 


...Titus E. Eddy, 

1865. 


Gordon liay. 


I. 


Edward Murphy, Jr. 


John Stanton. 


2. 


...Joseph Fales, 


Isaac N. Haight. 


3- 


George H. Starbuck, 


James R. Prentice. 


4- 


Robert Morris, 


William Kemp. 


5- 


...Thomas T. Hislop, 


William Cox. 


6- 


...Robert T. Smart, 


Edwin Sears. 


7- 


...Michael Fitzgerald, 


William J. Sands. 


8. 


Thomas McManus, 


James Fleming. 


9- 


Thomas Norton, 


James Harrity. 


lO. 


--.Gordon Hay, 

1866. 


Henry D. Stannard. 


I . 


---John Stanton, 


John D. Spicer. 


2. 


-..Isaac N. Haight, 


Joseph Fales. 


3- 


James R. Prentice, 


George H. Starbuck. 


4- 


William Kemp, 


William E. Kisselburgh. 


5- 


William Cox, 


Joseph B. Morris. 


6. 


Henry Evans, 


Edwin Sears. 


7- 


...William J. Sands, 


John Maloney. 


8. 


James Fleming, 


Dennis O'Loughlin. 


9- 


James Harrity, 


Thomas Norton. 


lO. 


Henry D. Stannard, 


Albert L. Hotchkin. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



293 



1867. 



^ard. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen. 


I... 


.John ]). Spicer, 


Hugh Rock. 


2... 


.Joseph Fales, 


Isaac N. Haight. 


3--- 


-George H. Starbuck, 


James R. Prentice. 


4--- 


.William E. Kissclburgh, 


John M. Bogardus. 


5--- 


..Joseph B. Morris 


Edward Carter. 


6... 


.Henry Evans, 


Edwin Sears. 


7--- 


.John Maloney, 


Edmund Fitzgerald. 


8... 


.Dennis O'Loughlin, 


James Fleming. 


9..- 


.Thomas Norton, 


John Maguire. 


10... 


.Albert L. Hotchkin, 

1868. 


Ira M. Perkins. 


I 


.Hugh Rock, 


Thomas Galvin, 


2 


.Isaac N. Haight, 


Joseph Fales. 


3 — 


.James R. Prentice, 


George H. Starbuck. 


4--- 


.John M. Bogardus, 


Henry A. Merritt. 


5--- 


..Edward Carter, 


Joseph B. Morris. 


6... 


..Edwin Sears, 


James Maloney. 


7--- 


..Edmund Fitzgerald, 


Jeremiah Mahoney. 


8:.. 


. .James Fleming, 


Dennis O'Loughlin. 


9--- 


..John Maguire, 


James Maher. 


10 


..Ira M. Perkins, 

1869. 


A. L. Hotchkin. 


I... 


..Thomas Galvin, 


Edward Kelly. 


2 


..Joseph Fales, 


Isaac N. Haight. 


3--- 


..George H. Starbuck, 


James R. Prentice. 


4--- 


..Henry A. Merritt, 


John M. Bogardus. 


5--- 


..Joseph B. Morris, 


Jacob F. Mealey. 


6... 


.-James Maloney, 


John Marr. 


7--- 


..Jeremiah Mahoney, 


Edmund Fitzgerald. 


8... 


..Dennis O'Loughlin, 


William V. Cleary. 


9... 


. . James Maher, 


William Peters. 


10... 


.-A. L. Hotchkin, 


Leonard Wager. 



1870. 



Edward Kelly, 
.Isaac N. Haight, 
James R. Prentice, 
John M. Bogardus, 
Jacob F. Mealey, 



Patrick Carey. 
Josejih Fales. 
George H. Starbuck. 
Henry A. Merritt. 
William Collins. 



294 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Ward. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen. 


6. 


John Marr, 


James Shaughnessy. 


7- 


Edmund Fitzgerald, 


John Don, 


8. 


...William V. Cleary, 


Dennis O'Loughlin. 


9- 


...William Peters, 


Michael Russell. 


lO. 


Leonard Wager, 


John L. Messer. 


II . 


Edward Hannon, 


■ Martin Hunt. 


12. 


Thomas McManus, 


James Breen. 


13- 


James Euson, 


G. Frederick Bond. 




1871. 


I- 


Patrick Carey, 


Edward Kelly. 


2- 


...Joseph Fales, 


Charles Doring. 


3- 


...George H. Starbuck, 


Chauncey 0. Greene. 


4- 


...Henry A. Merritt, 


George H. Phillips. 


5- 


...William Collins, 


Jacob F. Mealey. 


6. 


...James Shaughnessy, 


John Marr. 


7- 


...John Don, 


Edward Fitzgerald. 


8. 


...Dennis O'Loughlin, 


WiUiam V. Cleary. 


9- 


...Michael Russell, 


Jeremiah O'Sullivan. 


lO. 


...John L. Messer, 


William A. Hartnett. 


II - 


...Martin Hunt, 


Edward Hannon. 


12. 


James Breen, 


Thomas McManus. 


13- 


G. Frederick Bond, 


James Euson. 




1872. 


I- 


...Edward Kelly, 


Patrick Carey, 


2. 


...Charles Doring, 


J. Lansing Lane. 


3- 


...Chauncey 0. Greene, 


Joseph B. Wilkinson, Jr 


4- 


...George H. Phillips, 


Ebenezer R. Collins. 


5- 


...Jacob F. Mealey, 


William Collins. 


6. 


. . .John Marr, 


James Shaughnessy. 


7- 


...Edmund Fitzgerald, 


Patrick Organ. 


8. 


...William V. Cleary, 


Dennis O'Loughlin. 


9- 


Jeremiah O'Sullivan, 


Hugh Treanor. 


lO. 


.. .William A. Hartnett, 


Oliver Boutwell. 


II. 


Edward Hannon, 


Martin Hunt. 


12. 


Thomas McManus, 


James Breen. 


13- 


...James Euson, 


John C. Mealey. 




1873. 


I . 


. - . Patrick Carey, 


James C. Shanley. 


2. 


— J. Lansing Lane, 


Francis N. Mann, Jr. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



295 



/ard. 


Aldermen. 


3- 


...Joseph B. Wilkinson, Jr., 


4- 


...Ebenezer R. Collins, 


5- 


...William Collins, 


6. 


James Shaugnessy, 


7- 


...Patrick Organ, 


8. 


...Dennis O'Loughlin, 


9- 


...Hugh Treanor, Jr., 


10. 


Oliver Boutwell, 


1 1 . 


Martin Hunt, 


12. 


John Moran, 


13- 


...John C. Mealey, 



I H. D. Markstone, 

2 Michael Niles, 

3 John M. Landon, 

4 George Churchill, 

5 Irving Hayner, 

6 Patrick Flanigan, 

7 Joseph Burns, 

8 William Hanlon, 

9 John J. Fallon, 

10 Michael R. Manning, 

II Christopher Behan, 

12 Daniel O'Sullivan, 

13 John C. Mealey, 

I....H. D. Markstone, 

2 Michael Niles, 

3 John M. Landon, 

4 George Churchill, 

5 Irving Hayner, 

6 Patrick Flannigan, 

7 Daniel Burns, 

8 William Hanlon, 

9 John J. Fallon, 

10 Michael R. Manning, 

II Christopher Behan, 

12 Daniel O'Sullivan, 

13 John C. Mealey, 



1874. 



1875- 



Chauncey O. Greene. 
George H. Phillips. 
Jacob F. Mealey. 
Anthony Fitzgerald. 
Daniel Burns. 
Edmond Stanton. 
Michael Looby. 
Thomas Farrell. 
Edward Hannon. 
W. B. Stapleton. 
Lee Chamberlin. 

James C. Shanley. 
Francis N. Mann, Jr. 
Chauncey O. Greene. 
George H. Phillips. 
Jacob F. Mealey. 
Anthony Fitzgerald. 
Daniel Burns. 
Dennis O'Loughlin. 
Michael Looby. 
Thomas Farrell. 
Edward Hannon. 
W. B. Stapleton. 
Lee Chamberlin. 

John J. Murphy. 
Francis N. Mann, Jr 
Gilbert Geer, Jr. 
George H. Phillips. 
Edward Carter. 
Anthony Fitzgerald. 
Joseph Burns. 
Maurice Hartigan. 
Walter Myers. 
Daniel Dunn. 
Edward Hannon. 
W. B. Stai)leton. 
Christian W. R;i])p. 



296 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



1876. 



Vzrd. 


Aldermen. 


Aldermen. 


I .- 


..J. Le Roy Pine, 


John J. Murphy. 


2.. 


..Luther A. Flint, 


Francis N. Mann, Jr. 


3-- 


..John M. Landon, 


Gilbert Geer, Jr. 


4-- 


..George Churchill, 


George H. Phillips. 


5-- 


..Nelson Pramer, 


Edward Carter. 


6.. 


..James Shaughnessy, 


Anthony Fitzgerald. 


7-- 


..Joseph Burns, 


Daniel Burns. 


8.. 


..Michael Kenny, 


Maurice Hartigan. 


9-- 


..Stephen M. Hogan, 


Walter Myers. 


10.. 


..Michael R. Manning, 


Daniel Dunn, 


II -_ 


..Christopher Behan, 


Edward Hannon. 


12.. 


..Daniel O'Sullivan, 


William B. Stapleton. 


13-- 


..G. N. Rhodes, 


Christian W. Rapp. 



CHAMBERLAINS OF TROY, 



FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY 1816 TO 1876. 



David Buel, From i8i6 

James Mallory, 

John Thomas, 

George B. Richards, 

Jared S. Weed,... 

John T, Lamport, 

Amos S. Perry, 

James M. Brewer, 

Derick Lane, 

George C. Burdett, 

Benjamin H. Hall, , 



Dm i8i6 to 


1822 


" 1822 " 


1825 


" 1825 " 


1845 


" 1845 " 


1846 


" 1846 " 


1849 


" 1849 " 


1859 


" 1859 " 


1863 


" 1863 " 


1867 


" 1867 " 


1871 


" 1871 " 


1874 


" 1874" 


1876 



CITY COMPTROLLERS. 



W. H. Van Every, 1871 to 1872 

John P. Albertson, 1872 " 1876 



38 



CITY CLERKS. 

iSi6 TO 1876. 



When 
Appointed. 

William M. Bliss, 1816 

Ebenezer Wilson, Jr., 1825 

George T. Blair, ---1845 

John T. Lamport, 1847 

William Hagen, 1849 

John M. Francis, 185 1 

Charles D. Brigham, 1854 

John M. Francis, 1855 

Franklin B. Hubbell, 1856 

Benjamin H. Hall,.. 1858 

Abraham Fonda, 1859 

Francis L. Hagadorn, i860 

John H. Neary, i860 

George W. Demers, 1861 

Franklin B. Hubbell, 1863 

James S. Thorn, 1865 

Franklin B. Hubbell, . 1866 

Richard V. O'Brien, .1870 

Lewis E. Griffith, 187 1 

Henry McMillen, 1874 

Charles R. Defreest, 1875 



TROY FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

NAMES OF FIRST COMPANIES. 
Premier Engine Co. No. i, organized 1798. 



Neptune ' 


" 


2, 


" 1802 




Washington Volunteers, 




1812 




Torrent Engine 


Co. No 


4- 






Empire State Engine Co. No. 5, 


organized 


I82I. 


Hope 


" 


6, 


" 




Niagara 


" 


7, 


" 


1828. 


Cataract 


" 


8, 


u 


1832. 


Rough & Ready 


" 


9> 


" 


1837. 


Lafayette 


" 


' io» 


" 




Eagle 


a 


' 10, 


<c 


1839. 


^tna 


" ' 


' II. 






Hibernia 


" 


' 12. 






Good Intent 


a 


' 13. 







Hook & Ladder Co. No. i, organized 1820. 

" " *' 2. 

Vesuvius Hook & Ladder Co. No. 3, organized 1835. 
Franklin Hose Company, organized 1835. 
Eagle " " No. 10, organized 1837. 

Phoenix " " " 1840. 

J. C. Taylor Hose Company. 
Hyland 
Hall 
Gen. Wool 



PRESENT ORGANIZATIONS. 

Area Read Steam Fire Engine Co. No. i. — Organized Novem- 
ber, 1859. First officers; William Barton, President; Townsend 
M. Vail, Treasurer; William T. Willard, Secretary ; N. B. Starbuck, 
Cajjtain. Number of members at organization, 44. 



300 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Present officers : H. J. Deming, Captain ; H. C. Shields, Treas- 
urer ; I. F. Handy, Secretary. Present membership, 45. 

Hugh Ranken Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 2. — Organized 
April I, 1861. First officers : George W. Shepard, Foreman ; S. K. 
Briggs, Secretary and Treasurer. 

Present officers : Edward J. McKenna, Captain ; Luther Green- 
man, Treasurer : Alphonse Hummel, Secretary. Number of mem- 
bers, 44. 

Jason C. Osgood Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 3. — Organized 
January 14, 1862, with James McKeon, Captain ; B. Van Deusen, 
Treasurer; S. Comisky, Secretary, and 28 members. Present offi- 
cers : I. Seymour Scott, Captain ; William Bumstead, Treasurer ; 
Joseph Maloney, Secretary. Members, 40. 

Charles Eddy Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 4. — Organized No- 
vember 21, 1866. Henry Davis, Captain ; Charles Eddy, Treasurer; 
A. R. Ingraham, Secretary. Members, 32. Present officers . Geo. 
A. Hitchcock, Captain ; Charles Eddy, Treasurer ; Michael Conron, 
Secretary. 32 members. 

F. W. Farnam Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 5. — Organized July 
17, 1871, with E. Carter, President; William Collins, Treasurer; 
John Curley, Secretary, and 50 members. Present officers: James 
Crossen, Captain ; Richard Carter, Treasurer ; Robert T. Cary, 
Secretary, 50 members. 

Edmond Stanton Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 6. — Organized 
from Empire State Engine Company; first Captain, Philip Ford. 
Present officers : Thomas Smith, Captain ; Charles Donnelly, Secre- 
tary. 48 members. 

Washington Volunteer Fire Company. — Organized May 26, 
1812, with Hezekiah Williams, Captain; R. W. Lewis, Treasurer, 
Henry Nazro, Secretary, and 25 members. Present officers : Albert 
N. Sage, Captain ; John A. Brannan, Secretary. 75 members. 

Hope Engine Co. No. 6 — (Albia). Present officers : R. H. Uline, 
Captain ; Charles Driggs, Secretary and Treasurer, 35 members. 

Trojan Hook and Ladder Co. — Organized 1835. First offi- 
cers : John S. Perry, Captain ; John Anthony, Secretary. 25 mem- 
bers. Present officers : O. S. Ingram, President ; H. W. Gordi- 
nier, Treasurer; Edwin Morrison. Secretary. 61 members. 



CHIEF ENGINEERS 

FROM iSi6 TO 1876. 



When Appointed. 

William S. Parker, 1 8 1 6 

Gurdon Corning, 182 1 

Joseph Russell,' 182,7 

Townsend McCoun, ,. 1827 

Albert Richards, 1834 

Edward S. Fuller, ..1841 

Albert Richards, 1 842 

Joseph C. Taylor, 1843 

N. B. Starbuck, 1 846 

Joseph C. Taylor,2 1848 

N. B. Starbuck, 1849 

Edward Chapman, 1 850 

John F. Prescott, -1851 

William Madden, 1853 

Hugh Rock, . . . — 1858 

N B. Starbuck, .1861 

Ransom H. Noble, 1865 

Richard F. Hall, 1867 

James H. Ingram, 1869 

I Resigned. 

3 Resigned in 1S49. 



POSTMASTERS OP TROY. 



N. Williams, April i, 1796 

John Woodworth, — -i797 

D. Buel, - November 6, 1798 

Samuel Gale, July i, 1804 

William Pierce, 1828 

Isaac McConihe, -1832 

Charles H. Read, August 6, 1842 

George R. Davis, .1848 

Thomas Clowes, 1851 

William T. Willard, 1852 

Foster Bosworth, 1853 

W. W. Whitman, 1855 

James R. Fonda, July 17, 1858 

George T. Blair,.. September, 1861 

Thomas Clowes, 1 864 

Alonzo Alden, June 2, 1866 

Gilbert Robertson, Jr., 1874 



REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ASSEMBLY, 

FROM RENSSELAER COUNTY, FROM 1792 TO 1847. 



Hicks, Hosea Mofifit, Jonas 
Benjamin Hicks, Hosea Mof- 



The County of Rensselaer was erected from the County of Alba- 
ny in 1 791, and chose Representatives to the Legislature in i792.' 
From this year to 1847, Members of the Assembly were chosen by 
the County at large on a general ticket. 

1792. Jonathan Brown, John Knickerbacker, John W. Schermer- 

horn, Thomas Sickles, Moses Vail. 

1793. Benjamin Hicks, Christopher Hutton, Josiah Masters, Jona- 

than Niles, Nicholas Staats. 

1794. Jonathan Brown, Benjamin 

Odell, Thomas Sickles. 

1795. Jonathan Brown, Daniel Gray. 

fit, Jacob C Schermerhorn. 

1796. Josiah Bird, Daniel Gray, Rowland Hall, John Knickerback- 

er, Jr. 
1797- Jolm Bird, John Carpenter, Jacob A. Fort, Daniel Gray, 
James McKown, Hosea Mofifit. 

1798. John Bird, Jacob A. Fort, Daniel Gray, Jonathan Hoag, 

Hosea Mofifit, Israel Thompson. 

1799. Jacob A. Fort, Daniel Gray, Jonathan Hoag, Cornelius Lan- 

sing, John W. Schermerhorn, John L Van Rensselaer. 

1800. Jacob A. Fort, Daniel Gray, James McKown, Josiah Mas- 

ters, John W. Schermerhorn, George Tibbits. 

1801. Jonathan Brown, John Lovett, James McKown, Josiah Mas- 

ters, Hosea Mofifit, John E. Van Alen. 

1802. John Carpenter, Jacob A. Fort, John Green, Barton Ham- 

mond, John Knickerbacker, Jr , John Stevens. 

1803. John Green, Jonathan Rouse, John Ryan, John Woodworth. 

1804. Asa Mann, Jonathan Rouse, Charles Selden, William Stew- 

ard, Samuel Vary, Jr. 

1805. Jonathan Burr, John L. Hogeboom, Nehcmiah King, Asa 

Mann, John Ryan 



304 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

1806. Jonathan Niles, William W. Reynolds, John Ryan, Nicholas 

Staats, Jacob Yates. 

1807. Gilbert Eddy, Asa Mann, William W. Reynolds, Robert 

Woodworth, Adam Yates. 

1808. James L. Hogeboom, Ebenezer Jones, Adam Yates, Jacob 

Yates. 

1809. Derick Lane, Henry Piatt, Cornelius I. Schermerhorn, Is- 

rael Shepard. 

1810. Timothy Leonard, Henry Piatt, Cornelius I. Schermerhorn, 

Jeremiah Schuyler. 

181 1. George Gardener, Stephen Gregory, Abraham L. Vielie, 

Stephen Warren. 
1812-13. David Allen, James H. Ball, John Carpenter, Jr., John 
Stevens. 

1814. William Bradley, Burton Hammond, Bethel Mather, Barent 

Van Vleck 

1815. David Allen, Henry A. Lake, Jacob A, Ten Eyck, Zebulon 

Scriven. 

1816. Job Greene, David E. Gregory, Herman Knickerbocker, 

Samuel L McChesney, Samuel Millinan 

181 7. Daniel Carpenter, John D. Dickinson, Burton Hammond, 

Henry Piatt, Ebenezer W. Walbridge. 

1818. Abijah Bush, Andrew Finch, Myndert Groesbeck, Cornelius 

I. Schermerhorn, Munson Smith, Thomas Turner 

1819. George R. Davis, Andrew Finch, Henry Piatt, Daniel Sim- 

mons, Stephen Warren, 

1820. John Babcock, David Doolittle, William C. Elmore, George 

Tibbits, Ebenezer W Walbridge 

1821. William C. Barber, Richard P. Hart, William B. Slocum, 

Calvin Thompson, John Van Alstyne. 

1822. Daniel Gray, James Jones, Harper Rogers, Levi Rumsey, 

Gardner Tracy. 

1823. Joseph Case, Gilbert Eddy, Chester Griswold, Stephen War- 

ren. 

1824. Caleb Carr, Henry Dubois, Martin Van Alstyne, Stephen 

Warren, 

1825. John Carpenter, Jacob C. Lansing, Fenner Palmer, John G. 

Vanderheyden. 

1826. Robert Collins, Augustus Filley, John F. Groesbeck, William 

Pierce. 



IllSTORV OF THE CITV OF TROV. 305 

1827. Jeremiah Dauchy, John De Freest, Jr., Reuben Halstead, 

Henry PLitt. 

1828. Samuel S. Cheever, Alonzo G. Hammond, William Pierce, 

Joseph Wadsworth. 

1829. Nathaniel Barnett, Jr., Martin De Freest, William P. Heer- 

mans, Henry Mallory. 

1830. Abiel Buckman, George R. Davis, Ziba Hewitt, Abraham C. 

Lansing. 

1 83 1. George R. Davis, Chester Griswold, Martin Springer, Aaron 

Worthington. 

1832. Hosea Bennett, Henry J. Genet, John C, Kemble, Nicholas 

M. Masters. 

1833. William P. Haskin, Alonzo G Hammond, John I. Kittle, 

Seth Parsons. 

1834. Archibald Bull, Smith Germond, Nicholas B. Harris, James 

Yates. 

1835. Chester Griswold, Jacob W. Lewis, Daniel Lennons, Martin 

Springer. 

1836. David L. Seymour, Alexander O. Spencer, John J. Vielie, 

Nathan West. 

1837. Randall A. Brown, Alexander Bryan, Abraham Van Tuyl. 

1838. Hezekiah Hull, Jacob A. Ten Eyck, James Wallace. 

1839. Richard P. Herrick, Day O. Kellogg, Gideon Reynolds. 

1840. Gerrardus Devoe, Samuel W. Hoag, William H. Van Schoon- 

hoven. 

1841. Claudius Mofht, John Tilley, William H. Van Schoonhoven. 

1842. George R. Davis, Martinus Lansing, Silas W. Waite. 

1843. George R. Davis, Samuel Douglas, Henry Vandenburgh. 

1844. John L. Cole, George B. Warren, Jonathan E. Whipple. 

1845. Harry Betts, Ryer Heermance, William H. Van Schoonho- 

ven 

1846. Henry Z. Hayner, Samuel McClellan, Justice Nolton. 

1847. Joseph Gregory, Amos K. Hadley, David S. McNamara, 



39 



CITY MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY. 

184S TO 1875. 



By the State Constitution of 1846, the method of choosing Repre- 
sentatives to the Assembly was changed from the County to the 
District system. Rensselaer county was divided into three districts, 
of which the City of Troy was designated as the First. Represent- 
atives were first chosen under the new system in the fall of 1847. 
The following includes the Representatives elected from the city 
since and including that year : 

Amos K Hadley, - 1848-49 

George Lesley, - 1850-51 

Jonas C. Heartt, 1852 

Jason C. Osgood, - 1853 

Jonathan Edwards, 1S54-55 

George Van Santvoord 1856 

Darius Allen, 1 85 7 

Jason C. Osgood, -- 1858 

Thomas Coleman,.. 1859-60 

Charles J. Saxe, 1 86 1 -62 

James McKeon, 1 863-64 

George C. Burdett, .1865 

James S. Thorn,. 1866 

William E. Gurley, 1867 

John L. Flagg, 1 868-69-70 

Jason C. Osgood, 1 87 1 

William V. Cleary, 1872-3-4-5 



COUNTY JUDGES. 

I79I TO 1876, 



When Appointed 
or Elected. 

Anthony Ten Eyck, — 1791 

Robert Woodworth, 1 1 803 

James L. Hogeboom, -1805 

Josiah Masters, 1808 

David Buel, Jr., ...1823 

Harmon Knickerbocker, 1828 

George R. Davis, - 1838 

Charles C Parmelee, 1847 

Archibald Bull, •. 1855 

Gilbert Robertson, Jr., _ 1859 

Jeremiah Romeyn, _ 1867 

E. Smith Strait, 1871 



SURROGATES OF RENSSELAER COUNTY 

FROM 1791 TO 1876. 



When Appointed 
or Elected. 

Moses Kent, 1791 

John Woodworth, 1793 

Jeremiah Osborne, — .1803 

Alanson Douglass, .1806 

David Allen, 1813 

William McManus, 1815 

Benjamin Smith, ..1818 

Nicholas M. Masters, 1820 

Thomas Clowes, .1821 

Philip Viele, 1827 

Job Pierson, 1835 

Cornelius L. Tracy, 1840 

Stephen Reynolds, -1844 

George T. Blair, 1847 

Robert H. McClellan, 1855 

Moses Warren, -1863 

E. Smith Strait, 1 867 

Moses Warren, 1871 



DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, 

FROM iSi8 TO 1S76. 



[It was not until 181 8 that a District Attorney was assigned to 
each County in the State.] 

When Appointed 
or Elected. 

William McManus, .1818 

Job Pierson, 182 1 

Samuel Cheever, '. 182 1 

Job Pierson, 1823 

Jacob C. Lansing, 1833 

John Coon, ..1836 

David L. Seymour, --1839 

Martin I. Townsend, .1842 

Robert A. Lottridge,... 1847 

Anson Bingham, ._ — 1853 

Robert A. Lottridge, 1856 

George Van Santvoord,. 1859 

John H. Coiby, 1862 

Robert A. Lottridge, ---1865 

Timothy S. Banker, 1 869 

Francis Rising, 1872 

John C. Greene, -1873 

Albert L. Wooster, 1875 



COUNTY CLERKS, 

FROM 1791 TO 1876. 



When Appointed 
or Elected. 



Nicholas Schuyler, 1791 

Ruggles Hubbard, 1806 

James Dole, 1813 

Benjamin Higby, 1815 

Joseph D. Selden, 1818 

Benjamin Smith, .1821 

Archibald Bull, --1825 

Henry R. Bristol, 1 83 2 

Leland Crandall, --1838 

Charles Hooper, 1841 

Ambrose H. Sheldon, 1844 

Henry A. Clum, 1850 

Ambrose H. Sheldon, 1853 

John P. Ball, 1856 

J. Thomas Davis, ..1859 

Edwin Brownell, .1862 

J. Thomas Davis, 1865 

E. W. Greenman, .1869 

William Lape, 1872 

E. C. Reynolds, 1875 



COUNTY TREASURERS. 

FROM 1791 TO 1876. 



Until 1847, County Treasurers in this State were appointed by 
the Boards of Supervisors. Since the date mentioned they have 
been elected by the people. The following is a list of County 
Treasurers since the organization of the county, in 1791, to the 
present time : 

Aaron Lane, 1791 to 1800 

Benjamin Smith,... 1801 " 1825 

Qualified. 

Daniel Paris, .1826 

Isaac McConihe, 1831 

Thomas Clowes, 1834 

Waters W. Whipple, 1836 

Russell Sage, 1844 

Horace Herrington, ..1851 

Myron Hamblin,.. ^854 

Henry E. Weed,. .1857 

Charles Warner, 1857 

Oliver A. Arnold, i860 

Roger A. Flood, - 1863 

Samuel O. Gleason, 1864 

Albert L. Hotchkin, _ 1874 



SHERIFFS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 

FROIM 1791 TO 1876. 

When Appointed 
or Elected 

Albert Pawling, 1791 

William Guilliland, ...1795 

James Dole, --1798 

Moses Vail, 1800 

Michael Henry,.. 1801 

Thomas Turner, 1806 

Levinus Lansing, 1807 

Thomas Turner, i8o8 

Hosea Moffit, .1810 

Thomas Turner, 181 1 

Gerrit Peebles, 1813 

Jeremiah Schuyler, 1813 

John Breese, - ...1815 

Michael S. Vandercook, 1819 

Moses Warren, 1821 

H. Vanderburgh, 1825 

William P. Haskin, 1828 

Ebenezer C. Barton, - 1 83 1 

Augustus Filley, — 1 834 

Cornelius Schuyler, — 1 837 

Volney Richmond, 1 840 

Gideon Reynolds, ---i 843 

Gilbert Cropsey, ..1846 

Abraham Witbeck, 1849 

John Price, -1852 

William Wells, 1855 

Gerothman W. Cornell, 1858 

Joseph F. Battershall, _-i86i 

Gerothman W Cornell,.. 1864 

Matthew V. A. Fonda, 1867 

James McKeon, .1870 

John A. Quackenbush, 1 873 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



3^3 



K =;g rr:r- 3 ^ ^ 5. <=- g^ 



W M M to 



I OJ to U5 w 



— 00 O o: . 



'^ Ln \0 OCL 



WO o d o o ^j "00 M 

^j4-UJ O IJ a^-U ^O '-n ^j 

coL>i 00 (T'-u ■-o <:: cT'.i 



O O ""-I coCi O Cj -^1 w 4- O 
(^ CO OJ i-H to (>J 1-1 ^1 Oi M O 
CO 1-1 4- O W a^-t- <->i O^Ln 00 



1795- 



1805. 



iSio. 



[S15. 



1825. 



1830. 



1835. 



1840. 



1S45. 



1S55. 



1865. 



1870. 



1875. 



o 
w 

a 

o 

H 

r 

r 

> 

Q 

> 

D 
o 

HH 

H 

o 

O 



40 



SH 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



CA 






Q 


C 


























Q Q 


o 


«si-«"'oi.^-d 




l"- .So 


< 




.t.-i 

•'§ 1 ^ s 

« rt C rt'"' 




o 


^ 


>■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ > 


-S =*' >' >' > 


> >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ 




(UVVl>VVViVV(VV 




<U <U <D <U ii V Qi 




C^CilOiOiCiCiSiOiCsiCilCi; 


S^i^f^cS 


e^; (v; Pi Pi Pi Pi p: 


Q 






M M 


4 

cj 




X y 




QQ- . CO r^ w i/; " • 






c^ 'h 


h" CO • 


^ R 




'S O M f< c<-,^„ . 


n' 


N 


M ^ hTvo* CO _, ; 






>. fci > >■ d >^ >. : 

^ < ^ :z; Q ^^^ 


i 




>. 

§ 






- . ^ ^"S i2 


u 




c -K 




„;!= t Tt. tJi ""^'5 


w 


uT "i '^ 


H 


t^-2 f^|§| I^J 


2i «r 


t; •? ^/^ 


5 
3 




§ ^ S 


'2 5 i 
r 1 i 


►J 

g 
o 
S 
O 


B £ < r^ 2 ^-:^ 


g 




c 8Si|^^ 


1 


(t: ryi > u -/: !?: ^ S :?;' ;?! ^ 


H fc 'X ISu 


8 ;^'li> 


i 


it:l-|ltif| iili- lllli'f^^ 


o 






5^ 


< 












^ 






H 














• • s • 
. . o • 

• :■« . 
S :o : 


ii 


>< 






^ 






3 




£ 
< 










o '■ 

^ '■ 


,£ 


^;^^ 


< o 
Q 


(2 


i 


cJ5 
1^ 


(7 
> 

t 


P2 


1 

1 


> 
< 

1 

f 

C 




'i 




T 
C 


C 


E- 


s 

< 

> 


s ■ 


s 

X 

u 

""'C 

^ 

o 





HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



315 



r-^ 


ei 


I^ 


w 







V^ 


,< 


C) 



H 

CO 


^ 


<< 


"p 


IzT 


X 





C ) 


<: 




U 


W 





K 


h 


H 






r/^ 




W 




pi; 



b fc 



S « Q 

Q 



< o 

Q 



O r^ r^ O 

O O cfi O 



O O O O ' 
O m in inc 
CO in iH CO 



Q 


c 




.Q Q 


Q Q 


Q 




="« c^ 


bber, D. 
n, D. D. 
tt. 

\obinson, 
lliamson. 
Lynch. 
[acGregor 
Hamlin, 
an Deuis 
mick. 
Eddy. 






[arisen, D 

I Walsh. 

Iford. 

1 Tucker. 

H. Weibe 

ird 




¥i 





ancis I 
orge I 
N, Mu 
Irelan 
hn W. 
mes Ca 


^ <■ u f< ^ Q f-^ ;?' u 


0?:h1 





f^O^^A^ 


>■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ > >■ >■ >■ >■ 


> > > 


> 


>>>>>> 










Ci:!:i:c^(^c!icicici;c4c^ci 


ci &i ci 


Cri 


Oi Di Oi Ci ;^i Cri 



•+ r^ M CO 



-^ "^^ <^)?. s 



O o -^ -^ 



■^ o i: o .t: j^ 
■1; o ^ o s -£ „ 
fi; r^ H c): ^ '►J P^ 






^ CO tH 






1-1 CO l-l O to M 

ti b Ji U ^ ^• 

3 ^ § rJ' 



-^ "c 5 "^ "O -^ 

.£ g ,5 g -rt ^ „• .S ^ 11 £! 11 
fiHC/2i^co> c/}y2UUcoP^X) 



,^ W 



-!:< 



3i6 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



w < 
X u 
^ Q 



^5 



«2 



6IU -J^ 

>' >■ >■ 

0) U OJ 






tyoS >.t; PS 



pi 






s pi fi; :s cl! ;^ i k:, tj ^^' w 
>■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ >■ > >" >■ >■ >■ 



<P3 






<^-^.^ 



s^t^ .05 



£ o 



S ^ 






^- 1; -"'.S *" ii s 

rr; U S tL. O f- > ^ 



CA) 



bjO 






C1^ 1^ 



§ Si 









§ O C S 2i-r 
"£ P^ C ^ .^ Q 



' tL* -/i Cil u u 



00 1-1 en r^ 
. en -1- -t -r 

ICO CO CO CO 



c-i -t-tinoo t^M 
cococococococo r>. 



►il. ^.A 



' - o 



'■^^ £ i: S 1^ ii ^ 57 



; 3.^^^ -1 S (^ 



o i.2^ o S 5 



> H cri K 

5 



u'l -dfi ih u~> S'i in ui PPmUi-1 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



zn 





C/5 


>^ 


O 


o 




^ 


fri 


H 




U^ 


w 


o 




OQ 


S 


w 


O) 


C) 


g 

^ 


^ 


< 


D 


^" 


ffi 


O 


C) 


< 




u 


W 


s 


K 


H 


H 


12; 




rn 




W 




Pi; 

PL. 



b cx, s 

w o § 






< o 



en CO M 



OOr^OOO kO O \n 
OiriOODvn OOt^ 
fji-ccoi-ivnn w w 




Wfa 



. . . . X3 -2 

c^ G^ g^ G^ ;^ c^ c^ c^ tfi £^ (v; c^ q; 0^ ct:; Cii^ a:; &::; 0=:; in:; &; pj 






882> 

O O CO 



o o o o < 

O O O O ' 
11 M 



88 



o o o 

o o o 

o o o 

HI IN 



000>nOO oooo 
q_ q q^o_ o_ o_ 0_ o_ o_ >o 

o" -f O' co' li^ d" vo" 0~ cf> -< 



CO 'iS CO «3 



o^ 



11 CO t^ 



o S 2 

i;zii-iN 




b; ?5u 



;W S 



H U > O C^ C/2 OQ C/: C/2 OQ ^ X 



S u w 
> f- « X 
5 ^ ^ H 



PASTORS OF THE CHURCHES, 

From their Organization to the Present, 



PRESBYTERIAN. 

First Church— Jonas Coe. D. D.. June 25, 1793, to July 21, 1822. N. S. S. Beman, D. D., 
LL. D., June 18, 1823, to June, 1863. M. R. Vincent, D D., June, 1863, to April, 1873. G. N. 
Webber, D. D., April, 1873. Co-Pastors— Koherl R. Booth. D. D., Oct. 1832, to February, 1857. 
Herrick Johnson, D. D , June, i860, to October 1862. 

Second Chukch— Mark Tucker, D D , September 25 1827. Erastus Hopkins, D. D., 1837. 
Charles Wadsworth, 1842. Thomas P Field. 1850. Elam Smalley, D. D., June 21, 1854. J. T. 
Duryea, D. D., May 19, 1859. D S Gregory, D. D., August 8. 1863. William Irvin, D. D., July 
11,1867. 

Third Church— Ebenezer Seymore Abner DeWitt. 

United PRESBVTERiAN^Peter Bullions, D. D., December 28, 1836, to February 13, 1864. H. 
P. McAdam, July 20, 1865 to January 11 1871. R. D. Williamson, February 6, 1872. 

Second Street Church— W D Snodgrass, D. D.. October 8, 1834. E. W. Andrews, Septem- 
ber 18, 1844. Ebenezer Hailey. D, D., July 6, 1848. Duncan Kennedy, D. D., July 11, 1855. 
Charles E. Robinson, D. D., October 23, 1867 

Liberty Street Church — Henry Highland Garnett, 6 years. Edmund Freeman, 2 years. 
Benjamin Lynch, 2 years. Jonathan Gibbs, 5 years. J. N. Gloucester, i year. Jacob A. Prime, 
7 years. William Lynch. 

Park Church — Charles S. Robinson. 4 years 8 months. G. H. Robertson, 4 years, 4 months. 
Abner De Witt, 6 years, 3 months. Donald MacGregor. May, 1872. 

WooDsiDE Church — Matthew B. Lowrie, Teunis S. Hamlin. 

Oakwood Avenue Church — George Van Deurs. January i, 1868, to November 30, 1S72. 
Charles Stoddard Durfee, December i, 1872, to July 15, 1874. George Van Deurs. June i, 1875. 

Ninth Church — N. B. Remick, May 15 i86g. 

Westminster Church — James Marshall, November 2, 1871, to March i, 1872. Thomas L. 
Sexton, May 9, 1872, to July i, 1875. Clarence Eddy, July i, 1875. 

BAPTIST. 

First Church— Elias Lee, I Sheldon, Isaac Webb. Francis Wayland, C. J. Somers, B. M. Hill, 
I. Cookson, L. Howard, L. O. Lovell, George C Baldwin D. D. 

Second Church— Ebenezer S. Raymond, W. T. C. Hanna. 

North Church— Leland Howard, 3 years. J H. Walden, 2 years. J. G. Warren, D. D., 6 
years. C. P. Sheldon, D. D., 19 years L. J Matteson 1875. 

South Troy Chapel— Rich.ard Davis, February i. 1870, to March. 1871. J. N. Smith, Decem- 
ber, 1871, to January i, 1875. Charles N. Catlin supply. 

Vail Avenue Church— Ezra D. Simons, 1871 to 1876. John Mostyn, June, 1876. 
EPISCOPAL. 

St. Paul's Church— David Butler, D. D., 1804 to 1834. Isaac Peck, 1834 to 1836. Roljert 
Boyd Van Kleeck, D. D., 1837 to 1854. Thomas Winthrop Coit, D. D., LL. D., 1854 to 1872. 
Eliphalet Nott Potter, (Associate Rector,) 1869 to 1872. Francis Harison, 1873. 

St. John's Church— John A. Hicks, May, 1831 to 1832. Herman Hooker, 1832 to September, 
1833. Henry R. Judah. Gordon Winslow, September, 1836. Richard Cox, October, 1837, to 
May, 1844. William H. Walter, September, 1844, to April, 1846. A. B. Carter, May 30, 1846, to 
September, 1847. Edward Lounsbery, 1847 to March, 1854. Richard Temple, July, 1854. J. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 3I9 

Brinton Smith, December, 1856, to February, 1859. Henry L. Potter, D. D., May, 1859. George 
H. Walsh, D. D., 1866. 

Christ Chukch— William F. Walker, 1836 to 1840. Edward IngersoU, D. D., 1840 to 1842. 
Robert B. Fairbairn, D. D., 1843 to 1848. Thomas W. Starkey, D. D., 1850 to 1854. James Mul- 
chahey, D. D., 1S54 to i860. Eton W. Maxcy, i86i to 1864. J. N. Mulford, 1864. 

Chukch of the Holy Cross — J. Ireland Tucker, D. D., 1848. 

St. Luke's Church— E. Soliday Widdemer, October, 1866, to October, 1870. George W. Shinn, 
December, 1070, to September, 1873. Samuel E. Smith, October, 1873, to July, 1874. Daniel G. 
Anderson. John W. H. Weibel, 1876. 

FuEE Church of the Ascension— George H. Walsh, D. D., 1870 to 1873. James Caird, 1873. 

St. Paul's Free Chai'EL— E. N. Potter, two and a half year-.. R. S. Adams and William 
Green officiated between 1S69 and 1872. Walker Gwynne, October, 1872. 
METHODIST EPISCOPAL. 

State Street Church — William Phosbus, 1810. Smith Arnold, iSii. Peter P. Sanford, 1812. 
Laban Clark, 1813. Tobias Spicer, 1815. Samuel Luckey, 1817. William Ross, 1819. Benja- 
min Griffin, 1821. Noah Rigelow, 1823. James W. Smith, 1824. Stephen Martindale, 1826. Sam- 
uel Merwin, 1828. John B. Stratton, 1830. Buel Goodsell. 1832. Noah Levings, 1834. Truman 
Seymour, 1836. Stephen Remington, 1838. C. P. Clarke, 1840. Noah Levings, 1842. James 
Covel, 1843. Luman A. Sanford, 1845. Allan Steele, 1847. Z. N. Lewis, 1849. Stephen D. 
Brown, 1S51. Lester Janes, 1853. Halsey W. Ransom, 1854. Stephen Parks, 1856. J. K. 
Cheeseman, 1858. Ira G. Bidwell, i860. Charles W. Gushing, 1S62. Stephen D. Brown, 1864. 
Erastus Wentworth, 1865. George W. Brown, 1868. William H. Hughes, 1871. Henry D. Kim- 
ball, 1874. 

North Second Street Church — S. D. Ferguson, i year. Peter C. Oakley, 2 years. Charles 
Sherman, 2 years. Henry L. Starks. Merritt Bates. Stephen L. Stillman, 2 years. Noah Lev- 
ings, 2 years. B. O. Meeker, 2 years. Sanford Washburn, 2 years. A. W. Garvin, 2 years. B. 
Pomeroy. Albinus Johnson, part of a year. A. F. Yates, 1856. Stephen D. Brown, 1858. L. D. 
Stebbins, i860. Erastus Wentworth, 1862. John W. Carhart, 1865. James M. King, 1868. H. 
C. Sexton, 1871. Samuel Meredith, 1873. H. C. Farrar, 1876. 

Levings Chapel— Desevigna Starks and B. O. Meeker, together ; Dillon Stevens, Ensign Sto- 
ver, Charles Pomeroy, Rober' Taylor, Aaron Hall, I. S. Hart, V. G. Axtell, S. Hewes, Cicero 
Bosher, E. Stout, A. Hand, Joseph Fames, L. P. Williams, Lorenzo Barber, Hiram C. Sexton, 
Robert Fox, George C. Morehouse, Charles F. Noble, John W. Qwinlan, William Bedell. 

Congress Street Church— Edward Noble, 1848. Alfred A. Farr, 1849. Ephraim Goss, 1851. 
Seymour Coleman, 1853. Hiram Blanchard, 1835. Chester F. Burdick, 1857. Andrew J. Jut- 
kins, 1859. David P. Hulburd, 1861. George C. Wells, 1863. Ensign Stover, 1865. Merrit Hul- 
burd, 1868. George W. Fitch, 1S70. Samuel Meredith, 1872. Au^justus F. Bailey, 1873. John 

E. Bowen, 1876. 

German Church— F. W. Dinger, 1357. J. Swahlen, i860. G. Abele, 1861. G. Seidell, 1863. 
J. C. Deininger, 1864. G. Mayer, 18G7. Joseph Kindler, 1870. Peter A. Moelling, D. D., 1873. 

F. S. Gratz, 1S76. 

ZiON Church— Jacob Thomas, William H. Decker, Joseph P. Thompson, M. H. Ross. 
ROMAN CATHOLIC. 

St. Peter's Church— Rev. McGilligan, 1827 to 1829. John Shanahan, 1829 to 1842. Peter 
Havermans, 1842 to 1845. Phillip O'Reiley. 1045 to 1S49. John Curry, 1S49 to 1851. Michael 
A. McDonnell, 1851 to 1S55. Tliomas Daley, 1855 to 1858. Clarence A. Walworth, 1858 to 1861. 
James Keveny, 1861. 

St. Mary's Church— Peter Havermans, 1843. Carrol and Roger Ward, assistants, 1876. 

St. Joseph's Church— A. Thebaud, J. Loyzance, N. Petit, H. Deluynes, J. M. Graves, R. 
Baxter, Menet, A. Rcgnier, M. Nash, J. Fitzpatrick, F. Michel, J. Rcnaud. 

Eglise St. Jean Baptiste— M. F. Furcotte, 1852 to 1855. Father Browne, 1867 to 1873. Fa- 
ther Huberdault. 

St. Francis' Church— Peter Havermans to 1870. Henry Herfkins to April 15, 1875. William 
J. Bourke, April 15, 1875. 

St Lawrence' Church— Norbert Holler, O. M. E., May i, 1870. Henry Lipowsky, Novem- 
ber I. 1S70 to January 15, 1871. Joseph Ottenhues. 

Sr Patrick's Church— John Joseph Swift. 



320 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

St. Michael, Archangel— Michael Driscoll, S. J. Augustine Regnier, S. J John Fitzpat- 
rick, S. J. 

UNIVERSALIST. 
Universalist Society — Lemuel Willis, Clements F. Lefevre, Barsilla Streeter, Dolphus Skin- 
ner, Benjamin Whittemore, L. L. Saddler, Mensais Raynor, Lewis C. Brown, W. Andrews, D. J 
Mandell, H. Towndsend, A. B. Soule, Charles C. Burr, Joseph C. Waldo, John N. Parker, James 
M. Pullman, J. Murray Bailey, L. M. Burrington, A. B. Hervey. 

UNITARIAN. 
First Unitarian Society— John Pierpont, 4 years. William Silsbee, 7 months. Joseph An- 
gler, 2 years. Edgar Buckingham, 14 years. N. M. Mann, 3 to 4 years. H. L. Cargill, 6 months. 
George H. Young, April, 1872. 

Church of Christ — W. A. Belding, Levi Osborn, W. H. Rogers, Joseph Bradford Cleaver. 
Beth Israel Bikur Cholim— Rabbi Chellock, Adolf PoUak. 
Berith Sholom— B. Eberson. 



I 



BANKS OF TROY. 



The Troy Savings Bank. — Organized April 23, 1823. Charles 
B. Russell, President ; Joseph M. Warren, First Vice President ; E, 
Thompson Gale, Second Vice President ; Charles N. Lockwood, 
Treasurer. Deposits, $4,086,052 14. 

The Merchants and Mechanics' Bank. — Organized July 6, 
1829. D. Thomas Vail, President; F. Sims, Cashier. Capital, 
$300,000. 

The Troy City National Bank. — Organized first as the Troy- 
City Bank, January i, 1833. Changed to a National Bank, 1865, 
John B. Pierson, President ; George A. Stone, Cashier. Capital, 
$500,000. 

The Union National Bank. — Organized first as the Union 
Bank, January, 1851. Changed to a National Bank in 1865. Hiram 
Smith, President ; A. R. Smith, Cashier. Capital, $300,000. 

The Manufacturers' National Bank of Troy. — Organized 
first as the Manufacturers' Bank of Troy, in 1852 Changed to a 
National Bank in 1864. Thomas Symonds, President ; C. M. Wel- 
lington, Cashier. Capital, $150,000. 

The National State Bank ok Troy. — Organized first as the 
State Bank of Troy, September i, 1852. Changed to a National 
Bank April 15, 1865. Henry Ingram, President ; Willard Gay, 
Cashier. Capital, $250,000. 

The Mutual National Bank of Troy. — Organized first as the 
Mutual Bank of Troy, November 24, 1852. Changed to a National 
Bank Maroh 23, 1865. Calvin Hayner, President ; George H. Sag- 
endorf, Cashier. Capital, $250,000= 

The Central National Bank of Troy. — Organized first as 
the Central Bank of Troy, December 30, 1852. Changed to a Na- 
tional Bank April 4, 1865. George C. Burdett, President; Asa W. 
Wickes, Cashier. Capital, $300,000. 

41 



I 



322 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

The National Exchange Bank of Troy. — Organized first as 
the Market Bank of Troy, in January, 1853. Changed to a Nation- 
iil Bank in 1865. Hiram Miller, President ; Shepard Tappan, Cash- 
ier. Capital, $100,000. 

The First National Bank of Troy. — Organized October 28, 
1863. Thomas Coleman, President ; Richardson H. Thurman, 
Cashier. Capital, $300,000. 

The United National Bank of Troy. — Organized by the con- 
solidation of the Farmers' Bank and the Bank of Troy, March 7tli, 
1865. E. Thompson Gale, President; G. H. Perry, Cashier. Cap- 
ital, $300,000. 



PHYSICIANS OF TROY, 1876. 



ALLOPATHIC. 



Adams, Henry G. 
Akin, Washington, 
Baynes, William T. 
Bonesteel, William N. 
Bontecou, Reed B. 
Burton, Matthew H. 
Camp, N. Hermon. 
Cooper, William L. 
Cooper, William S. 
Felter, Mahlon. 
Fisk, E. Jay. 
Gnadendorff, Herman. 
Halves, F. 

Heimstreet, T. Brinsmade. 
Hubbell, Charles L. 
Hutchinson, James C. 



Lomax, Josep.i D. 
Magee, Daniel. 
McChesney, James. 
McLean, Leroy. 
Nichols, Calvin E. 
Rousseau, Zotique. 
Schuyler, Clarkson C. 
Seymour, William P. 
Thomson, Robert. 
Traver, R. D. 
Ward, R. Halstead 
Wentworth, J. L. 
Wheeler, Lewis C. 
Whiton, Henry B. 
Young, Horace H. 



HOMEOPATHIC. 



Belding, Rufus E. 
Bloss, J. R 
Bloss, R. D. 
Campbell, M. W. 
Carpenter, C. H . 



Clark, Charles G, 
Coburn, E. S. 
Deuel, W. Estus. 
Vincent, Frank L. 
Woodruff. C. S. 



LIST OF LAWYERS 

Practicing in Troy from 1791 to 1876. 



Ackley, F. W .1865 

Albertson, John P 1840 

Alden, Charles L 1854 

Baerman, P. H 1857 

Baker, Charles I 1873 

Banker, T. S 1857 

Ball, John 1835 

Ball, Marcus -^857 

Banker, Rising & Boies, — 187 1 

Beach, William A 1855 

Beach, Miles 1856 

Betts, Harvey 1857 

Bird, John 1796 

Birdsall, Simeon, 1871 

Bishop, P. W 1864 

Blair, George T 1 843 

Bliss, William M 1806 

Boies, William 1871 

Britton, John G 1837 

Bristol, Henry R 1843 

Brintnall, C. E 185 t 

Brintnall, C. S. 1876 

Brockway, D 1857 

Brown, F. M... 1870 

Brown, Lyman 1 843 

Brown, Henry 1821 

Browne, Irving 1858 

Bryan, F. H. 1869 

Buel, David, Jr 1812 

Bncl, Clarence 1857 

Buel, John G. 1857 



Buel, Oliver P 1865 

Buel & Christie 1844 

Buel & Tracy ...1817 

Bull, Archibald 1810 

Bullard, E. F .1866 

Bullard & Wilkinson 187 1 

Burdick, Albert S 1870 

Butler, George 1827 

Britton & Hadley. 1845 

Carroll, Thomas B. 1857 

Christie, Robert 1844 

Church, S. E 1843 

Cipperly, J.Albert 1866 

Clarke, De Witt C - - - 1 S35 

Clark, Ebenezer 1836 

Clark & Pattison - 1 843 

Clough, Moses T 1858 

Clowes, Thomas 1817 

Clute, Thomas J... ..i860 

Colby, John H 1856 

Cole, Edmund L 1866 

Cook, Robley D 1S63 

Cowen, Esek 1865 

Cross, W. R, .1S60 

Cushman, John P 1812 

Cushman, Jabez N 1S30 

Cushman & Davis, 18 17 

Cutting, G. S jS6o 

Darling, William 1830 

Davenport, Charles E 1S6S 

Davenport, Nelson 1S57 



HISTORY or THE CITY 01- TROY. 



325 



Davis, George R 1820 

Davis, Charles M 1835 

Davis, George R. Jr, 1843 

Davis, James T 1 843 

Davis, Holmes & Davis, 1847 

Davis, H. J ..-i860 

Davis Sc Mather --1843 

Davis, Woodcock & Davis,. 1845 

Day, George 1851 

Denio, C.H --1857 

Dexter, G. S 1875 

Dickinson, John D 1791 

Dickinson & Mitchell 1816 

Disbrow, W. F 1857 

Donnan, George R. 1875 

Dorr, Francis O 1875 

Douglass, Alanson 1806 

Eastman, Ira A 1833 

Eddy, Henry T 1835 

Ensign, Lewis W 1875 

Elmendorf, Peter E 1791 

Filkins, Hamilton. .1848 

Fitch, John -- 184.3 

Fitch, George W .1 844 

Flagg, John L 1858 

Flint, AVilliam 1874 

Fonda, Nicholas 1791 

Foote, Ebenezer .1 806 

Forsyth, James 1844 

Forsyth & Mosher 1871 

Forsyth, Nielson. 1857 

Free, Edwin W --1857 

Freiot, James 1857 

Fullerton, Alexander N. 1833 

Fursman, Edgar L 1867 

Gale, Ansel H 1 846 

Gale, JohnB 1846 

Gale & Alden 1856 

Gardner, Daniel -1823 

Geer, Erastus 1846 



Geer, A. C 1847 

Gilbert, HolHster R - . 1 830 

Gleason, David -1830 

Gleason, Daniel S 1837 

Gould, George 1 83 1 

Gould, George V. 1876 

Gould, Tracy. 1875 

Grant, Bryan. 1857 

Green, John B 1872 

Greene, John C... ...1868 

Grey, Thomas 187 1 

Griffith, Lewis E 1869 

Griffith & Green 1875 

Guy, Thomas J .1870 

Hall, Daniel 1810 

Hall, B. H 1856 

Hall & MacGregor 1873 

Hadley, Amos K -1843 

Hagen, William 1846 

Harris, Henry 1836 

Harwood, G. M. -1857 

Hayner, Henry Z 1830 

Hayner, Irving 1 865 

Hayner & Geer .1848 

Hayner & Johnson 1843 

Hayner & Shaw 1867 

Heartt, Richard i860 

Henry, John V 1791 

Hoag, J. Edgar --1875 

Holley, Orville L... 1826 

Hollister, W^illiam H 1874 

Holmes, Jacob 1 846 

Howard, N. Jr 1840 

Hubbell, C. B 1876 

Hubbard, Ruggles 1806 

Hun, Abraham, .-1791 

Hunt, Hiram P -1833 

Hunt, Stephen C 1833 

Hunt & Forsyth 1844 

Huntington, Samuel G 1810 



326 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Hurlbut, E. P 1836 

Ingalls, Charles R., 1853 

Jennyss, Richard C 1847 

Johnson, Alexander G 1S43 

Jones, Daniel 1806 

Jones, P. L 1 85 7 

Reach, Calvin E 1875 

Kellogg, Giles B 1832 

Kellogg & Strong 1843 

Kellogg, John B 1 860 

Kellogg, G. B. &J 1867 

Kellogg, Justin 1866 

Kellum, Charles D 1873 

Kemble, John C --^^33 

Kendrick, Samuel 181 2 

Kent, Moss 1791 

King, Eliphalet R 1846 

King, Harvey J ^ 1 849 

King, L 1819 

King & Rhodes. .1872 

King & Quackenbush 1870 

Kimball, Richard B 1840 

Knickerbacker, J. F.. 1847 

Koon, John 1846 

Lamport, John T 1831 

Landon, John M 1855 

Lane, Derick 1857 

Lane, Jacob L 1857 

Lansing, James ..1S65 

Lawton, George P 1S70 

Lee, A. A. 1857 

Lester, F. A. 1875 

Lockwood, F. T 187 1 

Lottridge, Robert A 1857 

Lyon, A. D 1 860 

MacGregor, B 1865 

Mann, F. N .1827 

Mann, F. N. Jr 1873 

Mann, James F .1821 

Martin, Olin A... 1875 



Marcy, William L 181 2 

Marvin, D i860 

Masten, Henry V. W 1843 

Mather, €alvin E 1S43 

Mather & Norton 1847 

McClellan, Robert H .1862 

McClellan & Lansing .1870 

McConihe, Isaac 1815 

McConihe, John 1S60 

McConihe & Masters 1847 

McConihe & Robertson, ...1845 

McConihe, Thornton .1866 

McManus, William 1817 

McManus, Thomas 1875 

Merritt, Henry A. 1858 

Millard, John A 1 840 

Moran, John 1852 

Moran, P. H 1857 

Mosher, G. A 1870 

Moulton, J. W 1822 

Myers, M. H.. -1875 

Neary, Thomas 1866 

Neil, James 1843 

Neil & Lowry 1842 

Newman, W. A.. ...i 860 

Norton, Marcus P 1 864 

O'Brian, John --1853 

Olin, Jobs.. .1843 

Olin, Abraham B 1 843 

Olin & White --1843 

Osborne, Jeremiah 1805 

Paine, John 1830 

Paine, Amasa 1807 

Paine & Plall...-. 1812 

Palmer, George 1835 

Palmer, J. W 1874 

Parmelee, Charles C 1 835 

Parmenter, F. J 1852 

Parmenter, R. A 1848 

Patterson, Charles E.. 1865 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



327 



Pattison, Elias J, 1843 

Pearson, Eliphalet 1840 

Pearson & Church -1S45 

Peck, John H 1864 

Perkins, Charles W 1870 

Percy, A.J 1857 

Percy, John T 1857 

Phillips, Levi 1874 

Pierson, Job 1826 

Pierson, Samuel D 1843 

Porter, John F 1858 

Quackenbush, Edwin 1 860 

Raymond, John 1 840 

Redfield, Sidney A. 1821 

Rhodes, La Mott W 1867 

Rice, Obed ..1817 

Richards, Charles R 1843 

Robertson, Gilbert, Jr 1843 

Robertson & Foster, 1874 

Roche, Wm. J 1875 

Rodgers, Spencer C 1875 

Root, Charles W 1 843 

Romeyn, Jeremiah 1840 

Ross, Stephen 1806 

Ross & McConihe .1817 

Rowley, Charles N 1833 

Rumsey, Levi 1 806 

Rumsey & McMasters 1818 

Runkle, J. G.. -i 864 

Russell, John 1 806 

Rutherford, Friend S .1846 

Scott, Frank 1850 

Sergeant, S. 1857 

Seymour, David L 1831 

Seymour, W. W. 1840 

Seymour & Romeyn 1 845 

Shappo, John A 1874 

Shaw, William .1865 

Sheldon, Cyrus D. 1830 

Shirland, William H --1875 



Shortis, Edward 1843 

Silvester, Francis.. 1791 

Smith, Benjamin 181 8 

Smith, Levi 1846 

Smith, Albert 1875 

Smith, Charles Ed 1875 

Smith, Fursman & Cowen..i87i 

Starr, Samuel .1S06 

Starr & Jones 1806 

Stevenson, James M 1833 

Stone, D. H 1835 

Storm, Allen B 1 830 

Stover, Samuel.. 1857 

Stow, Gardner 1 845 

Stow & Millard 1845 

Strait, E. Smith 187 1 

Strong, Henry W 1833 

Sutherland, Thomas J -1833 

Sylvester, N. B 1865 

Tabor, Charles F 1857 

Taylor, John 1837 

Taylor, H. 1840 

Taylor, John E 1 843 

Taylor, F. B 1875 

Ten Broeck, Derick 1791 

Terry, Seth H... .1843 

Thompson, L Grant. 1865 

Tillman, Lewis T .i8io 

Torrance, J. R. 1S75 

Towner, Luther. ^^33 

Townsend, Byron G 1865 

Townsend, Martin I 1837 

Townsend, M. L 1857 

Townsend, Rufus M 1833 

Townsends & Browne 1858 

Tracy, Cornelius L.. 1840 

Tracy & Peck 1867 

Traver, Alvah i860 

Vail, Alvah C 1857 

Van Dyck, Peter A 1791 



328 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



Vandenbergh, Cornelius, 1791 

Van Santvoord, George 1857 

Van Schoonhoven, W H...1833 
Van Schoonhoven, Gerrit -.1791 

Van Veghten, Dow 1825 

Viele, PhiHp 1 830 

Viele, John J 1846 

Waite, George C -1846 

Warren, Moses 1845 

Wells, J. Fairfield 1843 

Wells &Gale 1846 

Wendell, Garret ..1791 

Wheeler, George -^^33 



Wheeler & Viele 1846 

White, Joseph D - 1843 

Whiting, Daniel 1830 

Whitney, C M.. ...1865 

Wilkinson, J. B., Jr. 1875 

WiUard, John D .1830 

Wilson, Ebenezer, Jr 181 2 

Wilson, Horatio 1845 

Woodbury,? T. .1843 

Woodcock, Don Carlos 1845 

Woodworth, John. 1791 

Wooster, Albert E . 1868 

Wooster, E. & Son 1869 



MANUFACTURES AND PRODUCTIONS, 1875. 

STEEL AND IRON. 

Companies, 2 

Number of Employes, 3,200 

Wages annually paid, -^ $1,500,000 

Capital actively employed, - $3,500,000 

Number of tons annually produced, 1 54,000 

STOVES, FURNACES, RANGES, ETC. 

Number of firms, 23 

Number of Employes, 2,115 

AVages, $1,715,000 

Capital, $3,719,000 

Number of Tons produced, 26,300 

Value of Production, $4,0 1 2,000 

MALLEABLE IRON. 

Number of Firms, 2 

Number of Employes, 225 

Wages, - $94,000 

Capital, $275,000 

Number of Tons produced, 2,150 

Value of Production, _ $300,000 

MACHINERY, ENGINES AND OTHER CASTINGS. 

Number of Firms, - 7 

Number of Employes, 250 

Wages, $150,000 

Amount of Business, $450,000 

FILES. 

Employes, 35 

Number of Dozens produced,. 10,000 

Annual amount of business, $30,000 

42 



330 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

LINEN COLLARS AND CUFFS. 

Number of Firms, 25 

Number of Employes, 7,000 

Wages annually paid, ^1,373,000 

Capital actively employed, $1,371,000 

Number of dozens produced annually, 3,135,000 

Value of Annual Productions, $4,030,000 

BELLS. 

Number of Employes, 50 

Wages, $30,000 

Capital annually employed, 1 $165,000 

Tons, - -- 750 

Value of Annual Productions, $468,750 

CAR WHEELS. 

Number of Employes, 30 

Wages, $20,000 

Capital Employed, $75,000 

Number of Wheels made annually, 1 2,000 

FIRE BRICK. 

Number of Employes, 80 

Number of Square Brick, 2,100,000 

Sets of Cook Stove and Range Linings, — 1 20,000 

Sets of Parlor Stove Linings, — 50,000 

PAPER. 

Number of Employes, 134 

Annual Product, tons, , 3,200 

Annual Amount of Wages, $56,000 

Value of Annual Product, $470,000 

HOSIERY. 

Number of Employes, 340 

Annual Amount of Wages, $88,500 

Capital actively employed, $370,000 

Number of Dozens annually produced, 67,500 

Value, - $378,000 

MALTING. 

Number of Bushels, 300,000 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 331 

COTTON WARPS. 

Number of Employes, 90 

Annual amount of Wages, _ _ ^22,000 

Number of pounds j)roduced annually, 420,000 

Value, $100,000 

BREWERIES. 

Number of Barrels produced, _ 115,713 

Number of bushels of Malt used, 192,540 

FLOUR AND GRAIN. 

Received and Distributed by shipment, bushels, 2,000,000 

Barrels Wheat Flour produced, 70,000 

Barrels Rye Flour produced, 10,000 



TROY DIRECTORIES. 

COMPLETE LIST PUBLISHED SINCE 1829. 



John Disturnell, publisher; Tuttle & Gregory, printers, 1829 

Tuttle & Gregory, 225 River street, 1830101837"^ 

Tuttle, Belcher & Burton, 1838 to 1839 

N. Tuttle, 1840 to 1846 

J. C. Kneeland & Co., 1847 

Prescott & Wilson,..- 1847 to 1849 

John F. Prescott, 1850 

C. L, MacArthur,... 185 1 to 1852 

MacArthur & Wilson, 1853 

C. L. MacArthur, 1854 to 1856 

George Adams, 1857 

Adams, Sampson & Co., 1858 

William H. Young, 1859 to i860 

Young & Benson, 1861 to 1865 

William H. Young, 1866 to 1868 

Young & Blake, -.. 1869 to 187^ 

William H. Young, 1875 to 1876 

Sampson, Davenport & Co., compilers since 1858. 



NEWSPAPERS. 

List of Newspapers published in Troy, from 17S7 to 1876, with 
the names of successive publishers and editors. 

1787. The Northern Centinel and Lansingburgh Adver- 
tiser, established Monday, May 21, 1787, weekly, by Claxton 
& Babcock ; King street, between Hoosick and South streets, 
Lansingburgh. The first newspaper printed within the present 
limits of Rensselaer county. 

17S8. The Federal Herald, Monday, May 5, 1788, weekly, by 
Babcock &: Hickok, Lansingburgh, corner of King and Hoosick 
streets. The second newspaper printed within the present 
limits of Rensselaer county. 

1791. American Spy, Friday, April 8th, 1791, weekly, by Silvester 
Tiffany, Lansingburgh, a little south of Douglass' Tavern. 
August 2, 1792, by Silvester Tiffany and William W. Wands. 
December 21, 1792, by W. W. Wands. The third newspaper 
printed within the present limits of Rensselaer county. 

1797. Farmers' Oracle, Luther Pratt & Co., Tuesday, January 
31, 1797, Water (River) street, opposite the ferry, Troy. The 
first newspaper published in Troy. 

1797. The Northern Budget, Tuesday, June 20, 1797, Robert 
Mofifitt & Co., Lansingburgh. Tuesday, May 15, 1798, vol. i, 
number 48, Troy, east side of Water street, four doors north 
of Pierce's Inn. May 4, 1807, Oliver Lyon. 1826, Troy Bud- 
get and City Advertiser. 1827, John C. Kemble ; Kemble & 
Hooper; Charles Hooper. 1836, Hooper & Cook. 1837, Kel- 
logg & Strong. 1838, Kellogg, Strong & Cook; October i, 
Kellogg & Cook. 1840, Daily Budget, Carroll & Cook. 1846, 
May, John M. Francis and Edwin Brownell. 1847, August, 
John M. Francis and C. L. MacArthur. 1849, W. W. Whitman ; 
editor, C. L. INIacArthur. 185 1, C. L. Mac.^rthur. 1852, W. 
W, Whitman. 1854, C. L. MacArthur. 1S59, January 3, Wil- 
liam Hagadorn. 1861, Troy Union and Budget. 1867, Troy 



334 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Northern Budget re-established as a Sunday paper, by C. L. 
MacArthur. At the present time, C. L. MacArthur & Son. 

1802. Troy Gazette, Tuesday, September 3d, 1802, weekly, by 
Thomas Collier. September 4, 1804, Wright & Wilbur. De- 
cember 25, Wright, Wilbur & Stockwell. September 10, 1805, 
Wright, Goodenow & Stockwell. 

1806. Farmers' Register, Tuesday, January 25, 1803, weekly, by 
Francis Adancourt, opposite Jacobs' Hotel, Lansingburgh. 
Removed to Troy in 1806. 

1812. Troy Post, September i, 1812, Parker & Bliss. 

1823. Troy Sentinel, July 15, 1823, O. L. Holley, editor; Wil- 
liam S. Parker, publisher. March 7, 1826, J. D. Willard, edi- 
tor; Tuttle & Richards, publishers. July 13, 1827, O. L. Hol- 
ley, editor ; Tuttle & Gregory, printers. May i, 1830, Troy 
Daily Sentinel, O. L. Holley, editor ; Tuttle & Gregory, printers. 

1824. The Fowler, April, by Gilbert Gunflint, Esq. 

1825. Evangelical Restorationist, Adolphus Skinner. 

1826. Troy Review, January 4, Truman Hastings, editor, Tuttle 
& Richards, printers. 

1826. The Reflector, Saturday, March 25, Castor & Pollux. 

1828. Evangelical Repository. 

1828. Troy Republican (Anti-Masonic paper) by Austin & Wel- 
lington. 1830, Thomas Clowes. 

1831. Northern Watchman, 1832, changed to the Troy Watch- 
man. 

1831. The Gospel Anchor^ (Universalist,) by John M. Austin, 
afterwards H. J. Green. 1833, Williamson and Austin, 

1832. Troy Statesman, (Anti-Masonic,) June 12, T. J. Suther- 
land. 

1832. Troy Daily Press, September, by William Yates. Yates & 
Richards, printers. 

1833. Troy American, September 18, by E. J. Van Cleve. 

1834. The Botanic Advocate, by Russell Buckley. 

1834. Troy Whig, July i, 1834, weekly and daily, J. M. Steven- 
son. October i, 1850, Charles D, Brigham. 1855, George 
Abbott. 1863, H. W. Green & Co. November 10, 1864, Geo. 
Evans, editorial manager. August, 1868, A. Kirkpatrick. No- 
vember 17, 1873, Troy Whig Publishing Co. 

1834. The Trojan, Jacob D. E. Vanderheyden, Russell Buckley, 
printer. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 335 

1836. The State Journal, R. J. Hasten. 1837, the New York 
State Journal, John Haxton. 

1837. Troy Daily Mail, by WelHngton & Nafew. 1840, Atwell 
& Mills. 

1841. Troy Daily Bulletin, December 6, "William Hagen, edi- 
tor ; R. Thompson, printer. 

1842. Troy Daily Herald, October 24, Ayres & Whitehouse. 

1843. The Aquarian. 

1843. Troy Temperance Mirror, published by Bardwell & Knee- 
land. 

1844. The Family Journal, Fisk & Co. 1848, the New York 
Family Journal. 185 1, the Troy Family Journal. 

1844. Troy Daily Post, Alexander McCall and Enoch Davis. 
1850, Davis & Johnson. 1852, A. G. Johnson. 

1845. The Trojan. 

1846. Troy Daily Telegraph, Hagen & Ayres. 

1846. The Rensselaer County Temperance Advocate, by S. 
Spicer. 

1846. The Journal of Temperance, Allen & Garnett. 

185 1. The Old Settler, monthly, January 16, Allen. 

185 1, The Unique, semi-monthly, Thursday, June 12, Parvus 
lulus. 

1851, Troy Daily Times, June 25, John M. Francis, editor; J. M, 
Francis & R. D. Thompson, publishers. 1854, J. M. Francis. 
July 17, 1856, Troy Weekly Times. Feb. 20, 1865, J. M. Fran- 
cis & Co. June 5, 1869, J. M. Francis & (H. O'R.) Tucker. 

185 1. La Ruche Canadienne, Dorian & Mathiot. 

1853. Our Paper, January, Davis & Cutler. 

1854. Troy Daily Democrat, October 24, James T. Ellis. 

1854. Troy Daily Traveller, Fisk & Avery ; Fisk, Fisk & Av- 
ery ; Fisk, Avery & Thompson. Changed from Troy Daily 
Post in 1852. 

1859. The Daily Arena, October 18, MacArthur & Fonda. Feb- 
ruary, 1861, A. G. Johnson, editor; A. A. Fisk, publisher. 

1859. Troy Daily Express, Gaylord J. Clarke, editor; Allen 
Corey, publisher. 

i860. Troy Morning News, April, E. F. Loveridge, proprietor. 

i860. Laigle Canadien, L. Cousin and Dr. J. N. Cadieux, edi- 
tors ; James R. Lettore, publisher. 

1861. Troy Union, Van Arnam & Merriam. 



33^ HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

1862. Troy City Democrat, June 28th, J.^A. & A. Corey, edi- 
tors ; A. Corey & Co., publishers. 

1863. Troy Daily Press, July 30th, A. S. Pease, August 8th, 
Weekly Press. 1867, William S. Hawley ; October 28, Hawley 
Brothers, (new series). November 7, 1868, E. P. Hawley; 
November 23, Hawley & Parmenter. 1869, May 18, Parmenter 
& Clark. February 11, 1873, Jerome B. Parmenter. 

1864. Troy News, Sunday, August 21, C. L. MacArthur. Janu- 
ary, 1866, William S. Hawley. 

1867. Sunday Herald, November 11, Wm. F. Boshart. 

1868. The Public Spirit, March, Le Grand Benedict. 
1870. Sunday Telegram, November, Thomas Hurley. 
1872. Troy Volksfreund, April 13, August Hillebrand. 
1875. Sunday Trojan, April 25, A. B. Elliott, proprietor. 



LOCAL SOCIETIl^S AND CORPORATIONS. 



MASONIC. 



Apollo Lodge, No. 49, (now 13.) 

Chartered June 19, 1796. First officers installed December 11, 
1796, in Moulton's Lodge Chamber, in the building then known as 
Captain Howard Moulton's Coffee House, and at present the Troy 
Female Seminary. The installation was performed by James Dole, 
Worshipful Master of Hiram Lodge, Lansingburgh. First officers : 
John Bird, W. M. , John Woodworth, S. W. ; Samj^iel Miner, J. W. ; 
Joseph Bacon, Secretary ; Marvel Ellis, S. D. ; Chester Truesdell, 
J. D. ; Howard Moulton, S. Steward, and Benjamin Gorton, J. 
Steward. 

Present officers : Ransom H. Noble, W. M. • John A. MacDon- 
ald, S W. ; Edward L. Stout, J. W. ; Charles Cleminshaw, Treas- 
urer , Hiram W. Gordinier, Secretary ; James B. MacLellan, S. D. ; 
John Ketcham, J. D ; A. Vandenburgh, W. John Stevenson, M. of 
C ; C. H. Bosworth, C. D. Waston, Stewards ; Rev. E. D. Simons, 
Chaplain; William W. Rousseau, Organist; C. W. Rapp, Marshal; 
Charles Teson, Tiler ; Albert L. Hotchkin, S. M. Dutcher, Charles 
Teson, Trustees. 



King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, No. 91. 

Chartered June 4, 1842. Lodge organized June 30, 1842. The 
first officers were installed at Masonic Hall, No. 279 River street, 
near Fulton Market, August 11, 1842, by R. W. John D. Willard, S. 
G. W. of the Grand Lodge. First officers: Achille J. Rousseau, W. 
M. ; John S Perry, S. W. ; Joseph A. Wood, J. W ; S. G. Hunting- 
ton, Treasurer ; George H. Ball, Secretary ; N. T. Woodruff, S. D. ; 
H. K. Smith, J. D. ; George R. Davis and William Perkins, M. of 
C. ; John B. Colegrove and B. Cheeney, Stewards. 

Present officers : Charles W. Peoble, W. M. ; Charles M Austin, 
S. W. , Frank M. Fales, J W. ; O. R. Young, Treasurer; Henry 
Stowell, Secretary ; Frank A. Andros, S. D. • Alexander W. Taylor, 

43 



33^ HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

J. D. ; Rev. J. B. Cleaver, Chaplain ; William S. Flack and Charles 
H. Newman, M. of C. ; William Lamphere, Marshal ; Charles Te- 
son, Tiler; Alexander B. King, Jesse B.Anthony, G. P. Cozzens, 
Trustees. 



Mount Zion Lodge No. 311. 

Chartered June 13, 1853. First officers: John S. Perry, W. M. ; 
James S. Keeler, S. W. ; Riley W. Kenyon. J. W. 

Present officers : James Knibbs, W. M. ; George Churchill, S. W., 
George H. Morrison, J. W. ; J. Frank Calder, Treas. ; Wm. Tough, 
Sec'y ; Charles R. Hicks, S. D. ; Thomas Jessup, J. D. ; P. F. Van- 
derheyden, Jacob E. Danker, M. of C. ; Joseph N. Brown, Howard 
M. Dougrey, Stewards ; Rev. A. B. Hervey, Chaplain ; Emanuel 
Hahn, Marshal , Wm. W. Rousseau, Organist ; Charles Teson, 
Tiler • A. B. Fales, Joseph C. Hair, J. Leroy Pine, Trustees, 



Apollo Mark Master's Lodge, No. 35. 

Organized February, 1807. First three officers : Ira M. Wells, 
R. W. M. : S. F. Richards and Lemuel Reed. 



Apollo Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, No. 48. 

Chartered February 10, 1S16. First officers : Ira M. Wells, H. P.; 
Wm. Neafust, King ; Asa Anthony, Scribe, 

Present officers : Jesse B. Anthony, High Priest ; George D, Smith, 
King ; James L. Thompson, Scribe ; Gorton P. Cozzens, Treas. ; 
Edward B. Cox, Sec'y ; Theo. E. Haslehurst, Capt. H. ; William R. 
Hyde, P. S. ; Fred. Ratclifif, R. A. C. ; Joseph W. Smart, M. 3d V. ; 
William F. Robertson, M. 2d V.; Thomas B Helliwell, M. ist V. ; 
Otis R. Greene, Organist ; Charles Teson, Tiler ; George Babcock, 
A. B, King, L. H. Button, Trustees. 

Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T. 

Formed August 12, 1839. Warrant granted by the Grand Com- 
mandery, June 4, 1841. First Em. Commander, Thos. T. Wells. 

Present officers : Jesse B. Anthony, E. Com. ; J. R. Pettis, Gen- 
ealissimo ; Robert B. Ranken, Capt. Gen. ; George B. Smith, Pre- 
late ; I. Seymour Scott, S. W. ; Joseph C. Hair, J. W, ; Levi H. 
Button, Treas. ; George A. Waters, Recorder ; Fred. Ratcliff, Stan- 
dard Bearer ; Theo. E. Haslehurst, Warder ; Gorton P. Cozzens, S. 
Bearer; William Tough, ist Guard ; Edw. S. Armstrong, 2d Guard; 
Henry Stowell, 3d Guard; Edw. D. Cheney, Organi&t ; Charles 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 339 

Teson, Capt. of G. ; James W. Cusack, L. A. Rousseau, Jesse B. 
Anthony, Trustees. 



Bloss Council No. 14, K. & S. M. 

Present ofificers : Theo. E. Haslehurst, T. I. M. ; P. F. Vander- 
heyden, R. I. D. M. ; Henry T. Smith, I. P. C. W. ; William Pettis, 
Recorder ; L. H. Button, Treasurer ; E. S. Armstrong, Capt. G. ; 
Jos. W. Smart, Cond. C. ; Fred. Ratcliff, Steward ; Charles Teson, 
Sentinel ; E. B. Cox, W. R. Hyde, Jos. W. Smart, Trustees. 



Delta Lodge of Perfection. 

Ineffable Degrees, 4° — 14°. Organized 1870. Present officers : 
Jesse B. Anthony, s^ °, T. P. G. M. ; Charles Cleminshaw, 32 °, D. G. 
M. ; Julius R. Pettis, 32 °, V. S. G. W.; Lee Chamberlin, 32°, V. J. G. 
W. ; Gorton P. Cozzens, 32°, G. Treas. ; Edward B. Cox, 32°,G. 
Sec. & K. S. ; George Churchill, 32°, G. Orator; Alexander B. 
King, 32°, G. M. Cer. ; Jos. W. Smart, 32 °G. Capt. G. ; George B. 
Smith, 32°, G. Hospr. ; Charles Teson, 32°, G. Tiler; Julius R. 
Pettis, 32 °, Charles Cleminshaw, 32 °, William S. Earl, 32 °, Trustees. 



Delta Council P. of J. 

Ancient Historical and Traditional Grades, 15 and 16°. Present 
officers : Jesse B, Anthony, 33°, M. Eq. S. P. G. M. ; Alexander B. 
King, 32°, G. H. P. Dep. G. M. ; Julius R. Pettis, 32°, M. En. S. 
G. W. ; David M. Greene, 32°, M. En. J. G. W. ; Albert L. Hotch- 
nin, 32°, G. Orator; Edward B. Cox, 32°, V. K. S. ; Gorton P, 
Cozzens, 32°, V. G. Treasurer; William R. Hyde, 32°, G. M. Cer- 
emonies; George B. Smith, 32°, G. M. Entrance; H. H. Halladay, 
32°, G. Hospitaller ; Charles Teson, 32°, G. T. 



Delta Chapter Rose Croix. 

Philosophical, Doctrinal and Chivalric Grades. 17° and 18°. 
Present officers : Jesse B. Anthony, 33°, M. W. P. M. ; Frank A. 
Andros, 32 °, M. E. and P. K. S. W. ; John S. Perry, 32 °, M. E. and 
P. K. J. W. ; George Babcock, 33°, M. E. and P. K. G. O. ; Gorton 
P. Coz'/ens, 32 °, Res. and P. K. Treasurer; Edward B. Cox, 32°, 
Res. and P. K. Secretary; Levi H. Button, 32°, Res. and P. K. 
Hospitaller; Alexander B. King, 32°, Res. and P. K. M. Ceremo- 
nies ; George F. Sims, 32°, Res. and P. K. Captain G. ; Charles 
Teson, 32°, Res. and P. K. T. 



340 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

I. O. OF O. F. 



Rensselaer Lodge, No. 53. 

Charter granted June I, 1841. First officers : D. E. Battershall, 
N. G. ; John M. Bogardus, V. G. ; Edwin Cleminshaw, Recording 
Secretary ; A. C. Anthony, Treasurer. 

Present officers : Thomas R. Wells, N. G. ; James E. Blooming- 
dale, V. G. ; James Brown, Recording Secretary ; Harvey E. Prim- 
mer, Permanent Secretary ; Samuel A. Chapin, Treasurer. 



Rensselaer Degree Lodge, No. 7. 

Organizea November 4, 1841. First officers: H.T.Hyde, N. 
G. ; Jesse J. Ayres, V. G. ; Hiram Taylor, Secretary; Thomas Ben- 
nett, Treasurer. 

Present officers : A. F, Johnston, N. G. ; William Schwall, V. G. ; 
George W. Lutherman, Secretary ; Thomas Godson, Treasurer. 



Athenian Lodge, No. 96. 

Chartered January 19, 1847. First officers: Thomas Godson, N. 
G. ; Charles Burns, V. G.; E. G. Wellington, Treasurer ; William 
Oakey, Recording Secretary; B. J. Prouty, Permanent Secretary. 

Present officers : Joseph Hicks, N. G. ; Nicholas Young, V. G. ; 
Charles Broseman, Recording Secretary ; M. H. Williams, Perma- 
nent Secretary ; Thomas Godson, Treasurer. 



Rheiu Lodge, No. 248, (German.) 
Organized August 18, 1870. First officers : John Burkert, Noble 
Grand ; George Young, Vice Grand ; — Baum, Recording Secre- 
tary; Max Steigmayer, Permanent Secretary; Anthony Swartz, 
Treasurer. 

Present officers : Charles Heinzheimer, Noble Grand ; Philip 
Kranz, Vice Grand; Henry Vitalius, Recording Secretary; John 
Muiske, Permanent Secretary ; Anton Schwarz, Treasurer. 



Trojan Lodge, No. 27. 

Chartered November 11, 1839. Present officers: George E. 
Blake, Noble Grand ; Samuel McCombs, Vice Grand ; Henry T. 
Wemett, Secretary ; H. J. Shirland, Permanent Secretary ; Isaac 
Ensign, Treasurer. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 34 1 

Troy Encampment, No. 3. 

Organized December 25, 1839. Chartered Dec. 6, 1841. First 
officers : S Mallory, C. P. ; Alanson Cook, II. P. ; John Price, S. 
W. ; J. J. Gillespy, Scribe ; William Thompson, Treasurer ; Hiram 
Arnold, J. W. 

Present officers: A. S. Bassett, C. P. ; Hugh Galbraith, II. P. ; 
T. R. Wells, S. W. ; Thomas Godson, Treasurer; A. F. Johnson, 
Scribe; J. W. Graver, J. W. 



Funeral Aid Association. 

Organized June 21st, 1S68. First officers : William Madden, 
President ; Nelson H. Benson, Secretary ; Thomas Godson, Treas- 
urer. 

Present officers : William Madden, President ; H. J. Shirland, 
Secretary ; Thomas Godson, Treasurer. 



Augusta Ecbecca Lodge. 

Chartered March 20, 1872. First officers : William Spaeth, Noble 
Grand ; Mina Bestel, Vice Grand ; Amalia Rapp, Recording Secre- 
tary ; I>ouise Stegmyer, Permanent Secretary; Susanna Steuber, 
Treasurer. 

Present officers : Herman Carl, Noble Grand ; Anna Loth, Vice 
Grand ; Louise Gimbel, Recording Secretary ; M. Zimmerman, 
Permanent Secretary ; Susanna Steuber, Treasurer. 



Troy Union Rebecca Degree Lodge, No. 50. 

Chartered February 25, 1S74. First officers : Peter Blass, Noble 
Grand ; Mrs. S. Guard, Vice Grand ; Mrs. McNamara, Secretary ; 
Mrs. Levi Matthews, Permanent Secretary ; Mrs. Moses Corbin, 
Treasurer. 

Present officers : Peter Blass, Noble Grand ; Mrs. Moses Haskell, 
Vice Grand ; J. G. Patton, Recording Secretary ; Mrs. Levi Mat- 
thews, Permanent Secretary ; Mrs. Moses Corbin, Treasurer 



KNIGHTS OF MALTA. 

St. John's Encampment, No. 106. 

James McCaughren, Sir Knight Cora. ; William H. Johnson, Gen- 
eralissimo ; Jacob Smythe, Recorder ; William Jordan, Captain Gen- 



342 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

eral; Joseph McKinney, Prelate; Charles P. Hayner, S. W. ; Rob- 
ert Jordan, J. W. ; Robert Campbell, Treasurer ; James R. Williams, 
Registrar. 



KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Premier Lodge, Wo. 20. 
Instituted August ii, 1869. Morris Levy, Past Chancellor; R. 
H. Lawton, Chancellor Commander ; John Toy, Vice Chancellor ; 
James Van Arnam, Prelate ; Richard Jones, Master of Exchequer ; 
Henry Hahn, Master of Finance ; George F. Dunning, Keeper of 
Records and Seals. 



Crusader Lodge, No. 24. 

Nicholas Young, Chancellor Commander ; Elijah Goodfellow, 
Vice Chancellor; J. G. Patton, Keeper of Records and Seals ; Wil- 
liam H. Tabor, Master of Finance ; Charles Waldheim, Master of 
Exchequer. Thomas Godson, of Crusader Lodge, Deputy of Rens- 
selaer District. 



America Lodge, No. 27. 
Organized November 12, 1869. Walter Donald, Chancellor Com- 
mander ; C. Hamman, Vice Chancellor ; Warren Hedenberg, Keeper 
of Records and Seals ; A. E. Sliter, Master of Finance : John Lincy, 
Master of Exchequer ; Peter Peterson, Prelate. 



Guttenberg Lodge, No. 112. 
Charles Heinsheimer, Chancellor Commander : Christian Stem, 
Vice Chancellor ; Henry Steuber, Prelate ; Max Herrmann, Keeper 
of Records and Seals; Nicholas Mesnig, Master of Exchequer ; 
Henry Schoenberner, Master of Finance. 



ORANGEMEN. 



Troy True Blue L. O. L., No. 31. 

Organized October 17, 1871. William H. Johnson, Master; John 
Wood, Deputy Master ; Robert Reynolds, Secretary ; William Jor- 
dan, Treasurer; Jacob Symthe, Chaplain ; Charles P. Heyner, Con- 
ductor ; Andrew Willey, Tiler. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 343 

George Washington L. O. L., No. 61. 

Organized June 12, 1873. John McCauley, Master; James Mc- 
Caughren, Deputy Master; John Kennedy, Treasurer; James Mc- 
Caughren, jr., Secretary ; Thomas Fallis, Chaplain : Samuel Reid, 
Conductor; John Moore, Tiler. 



Abraham Lincoln L. O. L., No. 129. 

Organized February 24th, 1876. John Galbraith, Master; John 
Leggett, Deputy Master; Joseph Hoellinger, Treasurer; John Rich- 
ardson, Secretary ; Thomas L. Wright, Chaplain ; Thomas Arm- 
strong, Conductor; James Morrison, Tiler. 



Mount Horeb District L. O. L., No. 11. 

Organized June 15th, 1873. William W. Butler, Master; John 
McCauley, Deputy Master ; John Leggett, Treasurer ; Robert Rey- 
nolds, Secretary ; Thomas L. Wright, Chaplain ; William H. John- 
ston, Conductor ; John Galbraith, Tiler. 



Mount Carmel Black Preceptory. 

Organized May 2, 1876. William W. Butler, Master; George 
Deans, Deputy; Robert Reynolds, Registrar-, Samuel Hannah, 
Treasurer ; Robert Johnston, Chaplain. 



GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 

Post G. L. Willard, No. 34. 

Organized June i, 1869. First officers : Joseph B. Carr, Com- 
mander; Joseph Hyde, Senior Vice Commander; Joseph Egolf, 
Junior Vice Commander; Edward I.Davis, Adjutant; Bernard N. 
Smitli, Quartermaster ; Alonzo Alden, Chaplain ; William S. Cooper, 
M. D., Surgeon ; Anson Moore, Sergeant Major ; Isaac F. Handy, 
Quartermaster Sergeant; James F. Simmons, Officer of the Day; 
George W. Jenkins, Officer of the Guard. 

Present officers : Joseph Egolf, Commander ; John Oathout, Sen- 
ior Vice Commander ; Andrew J. Holliday, Junior Vice Command- 
er ; John H. Torrance, Adjutant; Edmund L. Cole, Quartermaster; 
Oliver Magee, Chaplain; Luke W. Nichols, Surgeon; Adolph 
Schmidt, Sergeant Major ; John W. Bounds, Quartermaster-Ser- 
geant ; George W. Lutherman, Officer of the Day; S. Somers, Of- 
ficer of the Guard. 



344 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

LODGES. 

Joshua Lodge, No. 78, I. O. K. S. B. 

Instituted April 14, 1872. Samuel Gatzlick, President; Simon 
May, Vice President ; Frank Hartsfeld, Secretary ; Emanuel Gratz, 
Treasurer 



Jeremiah Lodge, No. 85, I. O. B. B. 

Organized October 26, 1866. George H. Levy, President; Myer 
Gershom, Vice President ; Gustavus H. Berwin, Secretary ; Henry 
Stamper, Financial Secretary ; C. C. Robinson, Treasurer. 

Mistletoe Grove, No. 11, Order of Druids. 
Organized December 4, 1845. Christian Meps, President; J. F. 
Witze, Vice President ; Lorenzo Peters, Secretary ; William Reem- 
ers, Financial Secretary ; Herman Carl, Treasurer ; Max Stegmyer, 
Inside Guardian. 



Mount Moriah Lodge, (Colored, Masonic.) 
Organized January, 1875. James Ferrell, W. M. ; J. E. Williams, 
Senior Warden ; Robert Lansing, Junior Warden ; James McDou- 
gall, Treasurer ; Dav.id Jones, Secretary ; Willis Allen, Senior Dea- 
con ; Carey James, Junior Deacon. 

Troy Turn Verein Society. 

Organized August 8, 1852, re-organized 1864. Philip Kranz, 
President ; A. Meuschkc, Vice President ; Herman Sontag, Record- 
ing Secretary; Herman Schur, Corresponding Secretary; Henry 
Steuber, Treasurer ; Theodore Schneider, First Turn Wart ; Robert 
Sasse, Second Turn Wart. 



SCHOOLS. 



Troy Academy. 

Incorporated May 5, 1834; organized January 28, 1835. F. N. 
Mann, President ; Rev. George C. Baldwin, D. D., Vice President ; 
Prof. T. Newton Willson, Secretary and Treasurer. Board of Trus- 
tees : George C. Baldwin, D. D., William H. Doughty, Jonathan W. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 345 

Freeman, Chauncey O. Greene, Harvey J. King, Francis N. Mann, 
Francis N. Mann, jr., Harvey Mosher, Gilbert Robertson, jr., T. 
Newton Willson. 



Troy Business College- 
Established 1858. Named in the act of incorporation passed by 
the Legislature of the State of New York, April 12, 187 1. Board 
of Trustees : Thomas Coleman, President ; G. Parish Ogdcn, Wil- 
liam H. Young, F. A. Sheldon, P. W. Converse, John R. Carnell. 
McCreary & Shields, Principals. 



Troy Female Seminary. 

Miss Emily T. Wilcox, Principal ; William Gurley, Vice Presi- 
dent and Treasurer ; John H. Willard, Secretary. Trustees: Uri 
Gilbert, Elias Plum, James Forsyth, G. B. Kellogg, William Gurley, 
J. W. Fuller, William Kemp, C. W. Tillinghast, Francis S. Thayer, 
Lewis E. Gurley, E. Thompson Gale, John H. Willard, Mayor of 
Troy, ex-officio. 



St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary. 

Founded in 1864, for the then ecclesiastical province of New 
York and the New England States. Course of study is one year in 
philosophy and three and a half years in theology, after which the 
student is ordained. Faculty : Very Rev. Henry Gabriels, S. T. L., 
Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Moral Philosophy. Rev, 
Charles Roelants, S. T. B., Professor of Sacred Scripture. Rev, 
Peter Puissant, S. T. B., Professor of Moral Theology and Canon 
Law, and Treasurer. Rev. Augustine Fivez, S. T. L., Professor of 
Dogmatic Theology. Rev. Joseph F. Mooney, A. M., Professor of 
Philosophy. Rev. James S. IVL Lynch, Director, and Professor of 
Liturgy. Rev. Edward Dunphy, A. M., Professor of Sacred Elo- 
quence and History of Philosophy. Number of students in theolo- 
gy, 106; in philosophy, 27 ; total, 133. Whole number of ordina- 
tions since the founding of the Seminary, 260. 



Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

Founded in 1824. James Forsyth, President; William Gurley, 
Vice President ; William H. Doughty, Secretary ; William H. Young, 
Treasurer. Faculty : James Forsyth, President, Lecturer on Law 
of Contracts. Charles Drowne, C. E„ A. M., Director, Professor of 

44 



346 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Theoretical and Practical Mechanics. James Hall, LL. D., N. Y. 
State Palaeontologist, Professor of Theoretical, Practical and Min- 
ing Geology Dascom Greene, C. E., Professor of Mathematics and 
Astronomy. Henry Bradford Nason, A. M., Ph. D., Professor of 
Chemistry and Natural Science. William Lawson Adams, C. E., 
Professor of Geodesy, Road Engineering and Topographical Draw- 
ing. Dwinel French Thompson, B. S., Professor of Descriptive 
Geometry, Stereotomy and Drawing. Richard Halsted Ward, A, 
M., M. D., Professor of Botany. Arthur Wellington Bower, C. E., 
Assistant Professor of Physics. Jules Godeby, A. B., Instructor in 
the French Language and Literature. William Hubert Burr, C. E., 
Assistant in Theoretical and Practical Mechanics. Palmer Cham- 
berlaine Ricketts, C. E., Assistant in Mathematics and Astronomy. 
William Pitt Mason, C. E., Assistant in Chemistry and Natural Sci- 
ence. William Henry Powless, C. E,, Assistant in Geodesy, Descrip- 
tive Geometry and Drawing. Robert P. Whitfield- Professor of 
Geology. Number of students, 176. 



MANUFACTURING COMPANIES. 



Albany and Rensselaer Iron and Steel Co. 

Organized 1875. Capital, $2,000,000. Erastus Corning, Presi- 
dent ; Chester Griswold, Vice President ; Selden E. Marvin, Secre- 
tary and Treasurer ; James E. Walker, General Manager. 

Citizens' Gas Light Company, of Troy. 

Incorporated May 19, 1875. Perry E. Toles, President; George 
C. Burdett, Vice President ; Nelson Davenport, Treasurer ; John 
C. House, Secretary. 



Troy Gas Light Company. 

Organized March 15, 1848. E. Thompson Gale, President ; 
Thomas W. Lockwood, Secretary and Treasurer ; Frederick A. Sab- 
baton, Superintendent. 



Troy Hydraulic Company. 

Incorporated April 15, 1826. Francis S. Thayer, President. Al- 
exander M. Orr, Secretary and Treasurer. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 347 

MISCELLANEOUS. 



American Protestant Association, Mount Zion Lodge, No. 25, 

Thomas Fallis, W. M. ; John H. Cowcn, W. D. M.; James M. 
Barke, Recording Secretary; William Herron, Financial Secretary; 
George Spence, Treasurer ; Robert Campbell, Chaplain. 



Americus Club. 

Organized November 5, 187 1. J. T. Maloney, President; Pat- 
rick Dunn, Vice President ; Fred H. Tidmarsh, Secretary ; Law- 
rence T. Reilly, Treasurer. 



Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 2. 
Organized April 6, 1873. John F. Kelley, President; William H. 
O'Brien, Vice-President; Edward A. Reilly, Recording Secretary ; 
Dennis J. Dewan, Corresponding Secretary ; Michael A. Tiernay, 
Financial Secretary ; James Moran, Treasurer. 



Aurora Boat Club. 

Organized July, 1874. William J. Roche, President; Edward J. 
Breen, Captain ; John F. Roche, Assistant Captain ; R. P. Grace, 
Secretary ; T. J. Hurley, Treasurer. 

Bessemer Steel Works Mutual Benefit Association, 

Organized February 15,1869. John McNeil, President ; Daniel 
Sullivan, Vice-President; Patrick Maloney, Secretary ; P. H.Mit- 
chell, Treasurer. 



Caledonian Club of Troy and Cohoes. 

Organized January 29, 1872. Adam Ross, Honor Chief ; Walter 
Donald, First Chieftain ; Donald McKay, Second Chieftain ; Geo. 
Gray, Jr., Third Chieftain ; Andrew Cunningham, Fourth Chieftain, 



Church Home— Protestant Episcopal. 

Incorporated under act passed April 17, 1863. Joseph W. Fuller, 
President; Norman B. Squires, Vice-President; H. B. Dauchy, 
■Secretary ; Willard Gay, Treasurer ; Miss Mary Jane Smith, Matron, 



34^ HISTORY OF TPIE CITY OF TROY. 

The Day Home. 

First act of incorportion, March 5, 1862 ; second act of incor- 
poration, 1S66. Mrs. Isaac McConihe, President; Mrs. P. P. 
Stewart, Vice-President ; Mrs. J. D. Willard, Treasurer; Miss Lottie 
Marvin, Secretary. 



Ex-OfiQ.cers' Association. 

Established in the City of Troy, January 2, 1872. First officers 
elected : J. G. Patton, Adjutant ; Joseph Egolf, Quartermaster ; 
William E. Kisselburgh, Commissary. Present officers : J. G. 
Patton, Adjutant ; M. H. Donovan, Quartermaster ; Wm. J. Sher- 
man, Commissary ; R. B. Bontecou, Surgeon ; Rev. E. D. Simons, 
Chaplain; Henry E. Snow, Assistant Adjutant. 



The Eraerald Benevolent Association. 

Organized August 15, 1875. Michael F. McKiernan, President; 
John McCormick, Vice-President ; Patrick H. Flaherty, Secretary ; 
John E.Cannon, Assistant Secretary ; Matthew F. Meara, Treasurer; 
Michael Dormady, Messenger; Andrew Dormady, Librarian; John 
Burns, Thomas Moore, Stewards. 



Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. 

Organized February 18, 1874. Thomas Norton, President ; 
Thomas McManus, Vice-President ; George Moss, Secretary ; Ed- 
mund Fitzgerald, Treasurer. 



Hebrew Benevolent Society. 

Organized November 30, 1873. Mrs. Julius Saul, President; 
Mrs. A. Ksensky, Mrs. T. Hartsfeld, Vice-Presidents ; Mrs. E. 
Eberson, Secretary ; Mrs. E. Knox, Treasurer. 



Hibernian Benevolent Association. 

Incorporated March 7, 1834. Timothy Kelly, President; Michael 
Ryan, Vice-President; Michael Benson, Recording Secretary ; Jas. 
Sheehey ; Corresponding Secretary ; Peter Brannan, Treasurer. 



Home for the Aged Poor. 

Conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Joseph Theresa, 
Mother Superior. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 349 

Hudson River Homeopathic Medical Society. 

Organized July 8, 1875. C. H. Carpenter, M. D., President; E. 
S. Coburn, M. D., Vice-President; H. L Waldo, M. D., Secretary 
and Treasurer. 



Hudson Valley Dental Association. 
Organized January, 1864. E. J. Young, President; J. R. Draper, 
Vice-President; H. A. Hall, Secretary; S. P. Welsh, Treasurer. 



Ionic Club. 

Organized August 27, 1853; incorporated ..ugust 6, 1868. First 
officers : S. Nelson Derrick, President ; L. A. Rousseau, Vice-Presi- 
dent ; H. B. Dauchy, Secretary and Treasurer. Present officers : 
Charles Cleminshaw, President; Wm. H. Young, Vice-President; 
P. F. Vanderheyden, Secretary and Treasurer. 

Laureate Boat Club. 

Organized June 19, 1866. Present officers : H. M. Alden, Presi- 
dent ; R. H. Van Alstyne, Secretary and Treasurer ; J. K. Howe, 
Captain ; G. C. Baldwin, Jr., Lieutenant ; W. H. Doughty, E. M. 
Green, Charles Nash, Trustees. 

Ladies' Association 

Auxiliary to the Troy Orphan Asylum. Mrs. G. M. Tibbits, First 
Directress ; Mrs. H. Green, Second Directress ; Mrs. M. King Third 
Directress ; Mrs. J. L. G. Knox, Secretary ; Mrs. George L. Willard, 
Treasurer; Mrs. Greenman, Matron; Miss E. Doolittle, House 
Secretary and Accountant ; Miss Kate Vandenberg, Teacher. 



Presbytei'ian Church Home. 

Organized January 23, 1871. Mrs. W. R. Bush, President; Mrs. 
H. Church, Vice-President ; Miss Belle Cook, Secretary ; Mrs. T. 
Knickerbacker, Treasurer. 

Rensselaer County Medical Society. 
Organized under act of 1809. Records burned in 1820. C. H. 
Burbeck, President ; R. H. Ward, Vice President ; Z. Rousseau, 
Secretary; J. L. Wentworth, Treasurer; W. T. Baynes, Librarian. 
Censors : R. H. Ward, Le Roy McLean, M. H. Burton, C. L. Hub- 
bell, E. J. Fiske. 



350 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Bensselaer County Bible Society. 

Organized 1815. Frederick P. Allen, President; J. Spencer 
Garnsey, Corresponding Secretary; R. H. Uline, Recording Secre- 
tary ; E. W. Boughton, Treasurer ; William H. Young, Depositary. 



Rensselaer County Homeopathic Medical Society, 

Organized October 6, 1859. Dr. C. G. Clark, President; Dr. F. 
L. Vincent, Vice President ; Dr. C. S. Woodruff, Secretary and 
Treasurer 



Rensselaer County Sunday School Union. 

Auxiliary to the American Sunday School Union. Established 
1832. Lewis E. Gurley, President; James H. Kellogg, Correspond- 
ing Secretary ; J. Spencer Garnsey, Treasurer ; William A. Grippin, 
Secretary. 



Rensselaer Park Association. 
Organized June 4, 1867. Ai Pine, President; J. L. Pine, Vice 
President ; George P. Ide, Secretary and Treasurer. 



Rensselaer Polytechnic Rowing Association. 

Organized February 8, 1870. B. B. Newton, Captain; A. G. 
Baker, Lieutenant ; H. G. Young, Secretary ; H. C. Shaw, Treas- 
urer. 



Robert Emmet Association. 

Organ. zed January i, 1868. James W. Donnelly, President ; John 
H. Burns, Vice President ; John F. Cahill, Recording Secretary ; 
William J. Roche, Financial Secretary ■ Charles H. Hartney, Treas- 
urer. 



St. Augustine Association. 

Organized February i, 1841. Revised September 20, 1865. Chas. 
T. Gediney, President; William Jackson, Vice President; James 
H. Davis, Secretary ; A. S. Bishop, Assistant Secretary ; Charles 
Hegamin, Treasurer. 



Sisters of St. Joseph. 

Two communities. Founded August 29, 1861. Mother Gonza- 
ga, Superioress. Mother Philomena, Superioress. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 35 I 

Society St. Vincent de Paul. 

Particular Council. — Spiritual Director, Rev. P. Havcrmans ; 
President, Jeremiah O'Sullivan ; Vice President, Edward Kelly; 
Secretary, Michael F. McKiernan ; Treasurer, Michael Riley. 

This Council consists of the Spiritual Directors, Presidents and 
Vice Presidents, of all the conferences, organized and officered as 
follows : 

St. Mary's — Organized March ii, 1863. Spiritual Director, 
Rev. P. Havcrmans ; President, Edward Kelly ; Vice President, 
]\Iartm Whalen ; Secretary, Michael Burke ; Treasurer, Thomas 
Gilvm. 

St. Joseph's. — Organized April 8th, 1866. Spiritual Director, 
Rev. Michael DriscoU ; President, Peter Connolly ; Vice President, 
William McClernand; Secretary, Charles Burke; Treasurer, John 
Fitzpatrick. 

St. Peter's. — Organized January ist, 1S73. Spiritual Director, 
Rev. James Keveney ; President, Michael F. McKiernan; Vice 
President, William Bennett ; Secretary, Edward Delehanty ; Treas- 
urer, Michael Moran. 

St. Francis'. — Organized April 5, 1S74. Spiritual Director, 
Rev. Wm. J. Bourke ; President, David Ryan; Vice President, Alex. 
Delaney; Secretary, John J. Corliss; Treasurer, Edward O'Neil. 

St. Patrick's. — Organized August i6th, 1S74. Spiritual Direc- 
tor, Rev. John Jos. Swift ; President, Jeremiah O'Sullivan ; Vice 
President, George Moss; Secretary, Thos. J. O'Sullivan; Treasurer, 
Thos. Parle. 

St. Michael's. — Organized September ist, 1S74. Spiritual Di- 
rector, Rev. John Fitzpatrick ; President, Michael Fallon ; Vice 
President, John Nugent ; Secretary, i^.Iartin Donovan ; Treasurer, 
Wm. Hartnett. 



St. Jean Baptist National Society. 
Organized August 21, 1S70. Thimothe Chevalier, President; 
Jeremie Legare, First Vice President , Joseph M. Spenard, Second 
Vice President , Henrie Legare, Secretary ; Louis Chatelle, Assist- 
ant Secretary ; Leon Gay, Corresponding Secretary ; Pierre Gosse- 
lin, Financial Secretary ; Xavier Julien, Assistant Financial Secre- 
tary ; Francis Lacroix, Treasurer ; Clement Gcrvais, First Marshal ; 
George Cherpentier, Assistant Marshal. 



352 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum. 

Incorporated under the present name, 1863. Sarah Agnes, Sister 
Superior; Sister Onesime Rosensteel, President; Sister Maria Mc- 
Kenney, Vice President ; Sister Mary McKelleher, Secretary ; Sister 
Sarah Agnes, Treasurer. 



Sons of Scotia. 

Organized April 14, 1868. David Greenhill, President; John 
Howat, Vice President ; William Lindsay, Treasurer ; Andrew Cun- 
ningham, Secretary ; Thomas Hogg, Financial Secretary. 



Tammany Club of Troy. 
Organized October 7, 1873. John H. McGuinn, President; Ed- 
ward Croker, Vice President ; J. E. Donahue, Secretary ; J. J. Has- 
sett, Treasurer. 



Troy Catholic Male Orphan Asylum. 

Started December 8th, 1850; First regularly organized board, 
1864. Bartholomew Kelley, President; Henry S. Cox, Vice Presi- 
dent ; Peter Gadory, Secretary ; John Burke, Treasurer. 



Troy Choral Association. 
Organized 1875. E. Thompson Gale, President; James R. Pren- 
tice, Vice President ; John W. Cannon, Recording Secretary ; Wil- 
liam E. Kisselburgh, Corresponding Secretary ; G. Parish Ogden, 
Treasurer ; W. H. P. Cutting, Librarian ; Dr. T. J. Guy, Musical 
Director. 



Troy Club. 

Organized November 27, 1867. E. Thompson Gale, President; 
Uri Gilbert, Vice President ; E. R. Vail, Treasurer ; E. M. Green, 
Secretary. 



Troy Marshall Infirmai'y. 
Incorporated June 20, 1851. Thomas Coleman, President ; J. W. 
Downing, First Vice President ; J. W. Freeman, Second Vice Pres- 
ident ; R. H. Ward, M. D., Secretary ; George A. Stone, Treasurer. 
Medical Board : H. B. White, R. H. Ward, C. L. Hubbell, W. S. 
Cooper. J. D. Lomax, Medical Superintendent ; George Rice, As- 
sistant Superintendent. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 353 

Troy Iron Moulders' Union. 

Organized May i, 1858. John J.Grace, President; Charles 
Burns, Vice President ; Hiram Blanchard, Recording Secretary ; 
John Dempsey, Corresponding Secretary ; John O'Keefe, Financial 
Secretary; Patrick Fitzpatrick, Treasurer. 



Troy Orphan Asylum. 

Organized October 22, 1833; incorporated under act pas.sed 
April 10, 1835. Silas K. Stow, President, deceased ; C W. Tilling- 
hast, Vice President , Harvey J. King, Secretary ; Charles N. Lock- 
wood, Treasurer. 



Troy Typographical Union, No. 52. 
Organized i860; re-organized in 1864. C. C. Giles, President; 
John Bennett, Vice President ; Lucius F. Briggs, Recording Secre- 
tary ; Samuel Judd, Financial Secretary ; Henry Wheeler, Corres- 
ponding Secretary; Cornelius Mackey, Treasurer; Timothy Kelly, 
Sergeant-at-arms. 



Troy Savings Company. 
Organized December 15, 1869 Uri Gilbert, President; A. A. 
Sampson, Secretary; J. P. Albertson, Treasurer. 



Troy Scientific Association. 

Organized October, 1870 ; mcorporated December, 1874. R. H. 
Ward, President , Rev. A. B. Hervey, and Rev. William Irvin, Vice 
Presidents ; C. E. Smith, Recording Secretary ; F. Field, Treasurer. 



Troy Young Men's Association. 

Organized 1834 ; incorporated 1835. Latham C. Strong, Presi- 
dent; C. E. Davenport, First Vice President; Henry T. Smith, 
Second Vice President ; W. J. Kelly, Third Vice President ; S. C. 
Rodgers, Corresponding Secretary; Daniel T. Dunn, Recording 
Secretary ; P. F. Vanderheyden, Treasurer ; De Witt Clinton, Libra- 
rian. 



Troy Young Men's Catholic Literary Association. 

Organized 1859. George Moss, President; David Morey, First 
Vice President ; John J. Hassett, Second Vice President ; M. H. 
Fitzpatrick, Corresponding Secretary ; Michael F. Gaffney; Record- 
ing Secretary ; Philip Connors, Treasurer. 

45 



354 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Troy and West Troy Bridgce Company. 

Organized 1S72. James Forsyth, President; John D. Spicer, 
Vice President ; E. R. Vail, Secretary and Treasurer. 

Women's Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. 

Troy Branch. Organized January, 1872. Mrs. Ezra W. Bough- 
ton, President ; Miss E. Button, Corresponding Secretary ; Miss C. 
A. Brush, Recording Secretary. Miss M. Van Schoonhoven, Treas- 
urer. 



Ulysses Boat Club. 
Organized April 28, 1868. Charles G. Saxe, President ; W. H. 
Orelup, Captain ; E. D. W. Wood, Treasurer ; C. H Tyler, Secre- 
tary. 

United Daughters of Williams. 

Organized February 25, 1842. Mrs. Isabella Van Loon, Presi- 
dent; Mrs. Sarah Jones, Vice President; Mrs. Charlotte McDougall, 
Secretary; Mrs. Elizabeth Bishop, Assistant Secretary; Mrs. Cath- 
arine Bingham, Treasurer. 



TEMPERANCE. 



Father Albino Temperance Society. 

Chartered March 15, 1870. John J. Burns, President ; Christo- 
pher Lyons, First Vice President ; Philip Purcell. Second Vice 
President ; Felix Brennan, Recording Secretary ; William Murphy, 
Assistant Secretary ; John Connery, Financial Secretary ; David 
Hogan, Treasurer; John Lynch, Marshal ; Morris Nelligan, Assis- 
tant Marshal. 



The following is a list of other Temperance Societies in the city : 

Albia Division No. 66, Sons of Temperance. 

Father Matthew Temperance Society, No. i. 

Father Matthew Ladies' Temperance Society, No. i. 

Iron Works Division No. 52, Sons of Temperance. 

Prospect Union Lodge No. 30, I. O. of G. S., and D. of S. 

Trojan Division No. 23, Sons of Temperance. 

Union Hope Lodge No. 20, I. O. of G. S. and D. of S. 

Young Men's Father Matthew T. A. B. Society, No. i and No. 2. 



YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



Presidents from the Organization of the Association to the Present 
Time — 1835 to 1876. 

DeWitt Tuthill 1857 

Charles L. Alden 1858 



John T. McCoun 1835 

Thaddeus Bigelow 1836 

Henry W. Strong -1837 

George Gould 1838 

I. J. Merritt 1839 

James M. Stevenson 1 840 

Charles H. Read 1841 

J. L. Van Schoonhoven 1842 

Joseph White 1843 

Thomas Coleman 1844 

John G. Britton 1845 

William Hagen 1 846 

G. Robertson, Jr 1 847 

Uri Gilbert 1 848 

Amos K. Hadley 1849 

D. B. Cox 1850 

G. B.Wallace 1851 

William Gurley 1852 

G. B. Warren 1853 

William H. Young 1854 

Lyman R. Avery --1855 

W. O. Cunningham 1856 



Benjamin H. Hall 1859 

John M. Landon ..i860 

N. Davenport 1861 

A. B. Fales 1862 

John L. Flagg 1863 

Chauncey O. Greene 1864 

Charles A. Holmes. 1865 

Clarence Willard -.-1865 

Fred. P. Allen .1866 

W. E.Gilbert 1867 

Benj. F. Follett 1868 

J. Spencer Garnsey 1869 

William D. Clegg .-1870 

William D. Clegg 187 1 

E. L. Fursman.. 1872 

E. G. Gilbert. .1873 

Irving Hayner.. 1874 

I. Grant Thompson -1875 

L. C. Strong 1876 



Librarians of the Association from its Organization in 1S35 to the 
Present Time 



William Hagen 1835 

N. B. Milliman .1841 

George H. Bull 1841 

John R. Harris 1842 

John H. White --1844 



William Robertson 1845 

Henry P. Filer 1846 

T. B. Heimstreet .1864 

F. H. Stevens 1865 

D. W. Clinton .1875 



MILITARY. 



NATIONAL GUARD STATE OF NEW YORK. 



Third Division. 

Major-General Joseph B. Carr, commanding, Troy. 

Col. Lee Chamberlain, Troy, Assistant Adjutant General and 
Chief of staff; Col. W. H. Lawton, Troy, Inspector; Col. David M. 
Greene, Troy, Engineer ; Col. F.T. Martin, Albany, Judge Advocate , 
Col. Matthew H. Burton, Troy, Surgeon ; Col A. P. Corse, Troy, 
Chief of Artillery ; Lieut. Col. John A. McDonald, Ordnance Offi- 
cer; Lieut. Col. Francis N. Mann, Jr, Quartermaster; Lieut Col. 
John Don, Troy, Com. of Subsistence , Major Isaac F. Handy, 
Major J. W. Tompkins, Capt. James Kemp, Troy, Aids de-Camp. 

This Division comprises the Ninth Brigade, headquarters at Al- 
bany ; Tenth Brigade, headquarters at Troy ; Thirteenth Brigade, 
headquarters at Minaville ; Battery A, Light Artillery, headquarters 
at Albany ; Battery B, Light Artillery, headquarters at Troy ; a 
company of cavalry, headquarters at Albany 

Tenth Brigade, 
Brig. Gen, Alonzo Alden, commanding, Troy. Lieut. Col. Jerome 
B. Parmenter, Assistant Adjutant General and Chief of Staff; Maj. 
George H. Otis, Inspector ; Major John Tallmadge, Engineer ; 
Major John M. Landon, Judge Advocate ; Major Calvin E. Nichols, 
Surgeon ; Capt. Rice C. Bull, Ordnance Officer; W. Leslie Sanders, 
Inspector of Rifle Practice ; Capt, C. M. Austin, Quartermaster ; 
Capt. James G. Patton, Com, of Subsistence ; Capt. Wm. M. Swart- 
wout, Lieut. C. E. Bulkley, Aids-de-Camp. 

The Second Battalion. 

Wm. II. Munn, Lieut. Col. ; Michael Timpane, Major ; Frank 
Chamberlain, Adjutant ; John Miller, Quartermaster; Claude Gould, 
Com. of Subsistence ; R. E. Belding, Surgeon ; Franklin Read, 
Inspector ; William H. Rogers, Chaplain. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 357 

Co. A — John Thompson, Captain ; Thomas J. Donnelly, First 
Lieutenant ; James Doud, Second Lieutenant. 

Co. B — John Duke, Captain; Thomas Gilcoyne, First Lieutenant; 
Patrick Vaughn, Second Lieutenant. 

Co C — Jolin Miller, Captain; Charles F. Hilke, First Lieutenant; 
Frank Moore, Second Lieutenant. 

Co. D — Charles Roberts, Captain ; Charles Derosher, First Lieu- 
tenant ; Alphonse Read, Second Lieutenant. 



Battery B. 
A. H Green, Captain ; William D. Taylor, First Lieutenant ; 
J. W. Craver, Senior Second Lieutenant ; Thos. W. Goring, Second 
Lieutenant. 



INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS. 



Excelsior Guards. 
James B. Howe, Captain; William Flannigan, First Lieutenant; 
David F. Clohessy, Second Lieutenant. 



■William B. Tibbits Corps. 

Joseph Egolf, Commander; I. Seymour Scott, First Vice Com- 
mander; Timothy Quinn, Second Vice Commander; John Oathout, 
Third Vice President. 



MacArthur Zouaves. 
John F, Fleming, Captain ; Samuel P. Eccles, First Lieutenant ; 
John Hennessy, Second Lieutenant. 



NECROLOGICAL LIST 

Of Prominent Citizens, residents of the Village and City of 
Troy, from 1798 to 1876. Date of Death and Ages. 



1798 — September 4, Benjamin Carpenter, 30. 

1799 — January 9, Samuel Gale, M. D., 56. April 26, Mahlon 
Taylor, 52, 

1800 — June 27, Jesse Benham, 32. 

1802 — September n, Benjamin Tibbits, Fort Miller, 37. 

1803 — June 8, Jesse Bacon, 39. 

1805 — November 21, Hendrick H. Gardenier, 78. 

1806 — February 2, John Bird, 37. February 8, Capt, Jeremiah 
Pierce, 61. April 25, Edward Cullen, 26. 

1807 — May 4, Robert Moffitt (Senior proprietor of Northern Bud- 
get), ;^^. August 5, Alfred H. Brown, drowned. November 15, 
Daniel Jones, 28. 

1809 — September 4, Jacob D. Van der Heyden, 50. 

181 1 — Ebenezer Jones, 60. 

1812 — June 23, John H. Bird, 2 2,killed on board the frigate Presi- 
dent by a shot from a British frigate. 

1813 — March 3, William Gale, druggist, 31. March 14, Col. Abra- 
ham Ten Eyck, 59. Jacob I. Vanderheyden, 35, epidemic. June 
4, John Bordman, 55. December 26, Capt. Stephen Ashley, Sandy 
Hill. 

1814 — November 24, Capt. Moses Bears, 62. 

1815 — John M. Zander, 71. June 5, Moses Vail, 62. September 
7, Lieut. Thomas Vail, late of 29th U. S. Infantry. December 14, 
Andrew Kellogg, of the firm of J. A. «Sc N. Kellogg. 

1 816 — December 2, George Van Beuren, 74. December 2, Wil- 
liam Boggs, 48. December 8, William Henry, 35. 

1817 — August 26, Benjamin Gale, 51. 

1818 — February i, Derick Y. Vanderheyden, 36, Island of St. 
Croix. February 5, Rev. Isaac Knowles, 75. September 31, Pele- 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 359 

thiah Bliss, t,;^. Octol)er 5, den. ])avid A^au Ness, 73. November 
18, Elizabeth Gale, wife of Samuel Gale, M. D. 

1819 — September 12, Capt, Russell Lord, 61, Boston. 

1820 — December 26, Silas Covell, 67. September 13, Obadiah 
Penniman, 44. 

182 1 — September 13, Dr. Benjamin Woodward, 57. September, 
Oliver Lyon, former editor of the Budget, at Caldwell, 38, Novem- 
ber 27, Asa Gardner, 51. 

1822 — March 9, Anthony Van Schaick, attorney at law, died on 
the island, 43, March 11, George C. Adriance, 48. July 21, Rev. 
Jonas Coe, S. T. D., 64. July 29, Mrs. Stephen Ashley, 69. August 
9, Capt. Daniel Silliman, 53. August 11, Jacob Weeks, 70. Decem- 
ber 29, Isaac Brinkerhoff, 61. 

1823 — February 5, Gardner Craft, 55, February 16, Henry Lor- 
man, 79. February 21, George Webster, at Albany, 61. March 9, 
Col. Nathaniel Adams, 49. April 21, Col. Thomas Davis, 48. May 
7, Charles Starbuck, 54. August 7, Obed Rice, attorney at law, 41. 
August 31, Capt. Daniel Hudson, 73. September i, Dr. Eli Burritt, 
51. September ID, John Hayward, ;^;^. September, John V/iight, 
50. September 26, Daniel W. Piatt, 22. November 12, Aaron Lane, 
71. November 27, Samuel Vanderheyden, 24. December 25, Hon. 
Amasa Paine, 62. 

1824 — January 4, Gilbert Giles, 44. January 15, Henry Stock- 
well, 44. February 28, George Arnold, M. D., 37. Sept. 4, Elia- 
kim Warren, 77. November 5, James Dole, 77. 

1825— May 29, Dr. John Willard, 66, June 10, Luke H. Thrall, 
in New York, 41. June 19, Cornelius Adriance, 45. August i, 
Edward White, 31. August 11, John Truesdell, 57. 

1826 — March 18, Richard Knowles, 47. April 8, Capt. Ebenezer 
Webb, 61. April 25, William Frazer, 74. September 18, Ephraim 
Morgan, 70. November 9, Randell Rice, 79. 

1827 — February 21, Judge James Mallory, 44. June i. Hazard 
Kimberly, 51. September 7, Thomas Clark, 75. 

1828 — September 11, Theodore French, of French & Hart, 34 

1829 — January 26, Stephen Stearns, 67. April 19, Hon. Esaias 
Warren, 57. 

1830 — March 28, Hon. Samuel McCoun, 58. May 9, Daniel Mer- 
ritt, in New York, 66. 

1 83 1 — March 26, Col. Derick Lane, 74. December 7, Capt. Ben- 
jamin Mann, 93. 



360 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

1833 — February 28, Henry B. Dauchy, 37. April 30, Piatt Titus, 
58. 

1834 — August 13, Nathan Warren, 57. September 21, Townsend 
McCoun. September 24, James Ranken, 44. November 4, Benja- 
min Gilbert, 58. 

1836 — February 25, William S. Parker, 60. 

1837 — January 3, Dr. Moses Hale, 56. May 2, Capt. Joseph Card, 
77. November 10, Col. Albert Pawling, 88. 

1838 — May 24, Nathan Bouton, 81. 

1839 — January 20, Ebenezer Piatt, 64. July 21, Samuel Gale, 67. 

1840 — August II, Benjamin Pierce, 78. November 22, Matthias 
Van der Hey den, 52. 

1841 — June 28, Hon. John D. Dickinson, 74. 

1842 — April 10, Ananias Piatt, 80. May 10, Prof. Amos Eaton, 

66. April 18, Garret G. Van Schaick, Albia, 83. July 11, Rev. 
David Butler, D. D., 80. 

1843 — June 12, William Bradley, 76. August 11, Ebenezer Wilson, 

67. December 27, Richard P. Hart, 65 . 
1845 — April 8, Daniel Sackett, 58. 

1846 — July 10, Ephraim Whitaker, 91. August 7, Stephen W, 
Dana, 60. 

1847 — May 9, Stephen Warren, 65. 

1848 — February 28, Hon. H. W. Strong, 38. June 27, Francis 
Yvonnett, at Galesburgh, Illinois, 82. September 16, Judge John P, 
Cushman, 64. 

1849 — July 19, George Tibbits, 87. November 12, Captain Brooks. 

1850 — May 7, LeGrand Cannon, 64. June 4, Frederick Bradley, 
71. August 22, James M. Stevenson, Cambridge, 43. 

185 1 — December 2, Henry Nazro, 65. 

1852 — January i. Dr. Simeon Z. Henry, 60. January 9, Josiah 
Bouton, 50. February 7, John Paine, 59. 

1853 — April 4, Capt. Hiram H. Gillespie, 46. May 12, Capt. John 
Truesdell, 72. June 25, Hon. Henry Vail, 70. August 21, Jo- 
seph Daggett, 50. October 13, John Gary, Jr., 72. October 25, 
Waite Lowrey, 72. 

1854 — January 8, Roger Townsend Gale, 73. June 15, Amatus 
Robbins, M. D., 64. July 5, Hon. Samuel G. Huntington, 71. 
August 13, Grifhth P. Grififith, Brooklyn, 65. November 25, Dr. 
Charles Heimstreet, 43. December 31, Major Amos Salisbury, New 
York, 82. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 36 I 

1855 — January 16, William H. Van Schoonhoven, 45. December 
9, Philip Heartt, 88. 

1856 — August 31, Enoch Davis, 43. 

1857 — June 4, John Barrows, 93. June 5, Benjamin Hatch, 51. 
July 4, William L. Marcy, 71. December 6, Peter Fonda, 63. 

1858 — February 12, Norman Tuttle, 72. February 16, Jesse An- 
thony, 66. February 27, James Vanderheyden, 78. March 26, 
Achille J. Rousseau, 62. December 2, Benjamin Marshall, 76. June 
I, Judge John Woodworth, Albany, 90. 

1859 — January 13, Capt. Levi Smilli, New York, 55. February 
20, Capt. Joseph N. Brintnall, Brooklyn, 44. IVIarch 26, Jacob L. 
Lane, 65. June 20, Col. Thomas Bussey, 59. December 5, Amos 
Allen, 73. December 11, James A. Zander, 80. 

i860 — April 9, Hon. Job Pierson, 69. August 16, Hon. David 
Buel, Jr., 76. August 23, Nathan Dauchy, 88 

1861 — February 11, Henry D. Frear, 67. March 2, William Rob- 
erts, Jr., East Greenbush, 74. March 25, Orville Luther Holley, 
city surveyor, Albany, 69. April 28, John T. McCoun, 58. Decem- 
ber 3, Jonathan Richardson, 78. December 6, Gurdon Grant, 72. 

1862 — March 5, Ezra Boughton, 79. May 24, William R. Yourt, 
57. October 26, Samuel S. Dauchy, 42. 

1863 — March i, David Taylor, 84. March 11, Elias Pattison, 
Fishkill, 75. March 17, Valentine Marvin, 65. June 15, Judge 
Jacob Holmes, 6t,. July 3, Arba Read, 45. September 13, Richard 
Bloss, M. D., 66. October 23, William Hall, 90. November 18, 
William C. Boardman, 68. 

1864 — February 13, Rev. Peter Bullions, D. D., 73. February 27, 
Ex-Senator Volney Richmond, 60. March 14, Alsop Weed, 78. 
July 23, John Kerr, 62. October 9, Hon. John D. Willard, 64. 
October 15, Nathaniel Starbuck, 87. September 9, John Ranken, 
Albia, 54. 

1865 — April 7, Jacob M. Vanderheyden, 71. April 10, George M. 
Selden, 69. July 20, Sylvester Norton, 81. September 9, James 
Van Schoonhoven, 84. October 26, James Young, 84. Hon. Archi- 
bald Bull, New York, 77. 

1866 — January 6, Thomas W. Blatchford, M. D., 72. February 
18, William Hopkins, 54. February 21, John D. W. Calder, 64. 
April 9, Thomas Clowes, 75. April 15, Joseph Brintnall, 94. May 
14, Ebenezer Bell, 90. June 25, Hon. Gardner Stow, 78. June 27, 
Capt. Robert D. Silliman, 76. July 3, Joseph Gary, 78. July 21, 



362 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Hon. James S. Thorn, city editor of the Times, 28. July 21, Abra- 
ham Fonda, associate editor of the Times, 50. December 17, Wil- 
liam Earl, 86. 

1867 — January 20. Uriah Wallace, Brooklyn, 79. February 9, 
John Pattison, New York. May 14, William W. Whipple, 80. 
June 19, Abram Dyer, 67. June 24, Gen. George R, Davis, So. 
October 11, Hon. David L. Seymour, 6;^. November i, Hon. Isaac 
McConihe, L. L. D., 80. November 3, Nathaniel B. Starbuck, Island 
of St. Thomas, 50. December 9, Gardner W. Rand, 69. 

1868 — March 31, Albert Danker, 69. June 22, Thomas C. Brins- 
made, M. D., 65. December 6, Hon. George Gould, 61. Dec. 10. 
Daniel Hall, 82. December 13, Philo P. Stewart, 70. December 16, 
George Dauchy, 69. December 24, Alexander Orr, 62. 

1869 — January 23, Jesse Van Zile, 60. February 6, Lorenzo D. 
Baker, 6;^. April 20, Hon. Robert A. Lottridge, 63. August 30, 
James Kemp, 79. September 17, Townsend M. Vail, 67. Septem- 
ber 23, Franklin B. Hubbell, 45. Nov. 10, General John E. Wool, 
86. December 17, Daniel Southwick, 85. 

1870 — February 10, Israel R. Catlin, 59. March 14, Elam Con- 
verse, 80. April 2, Abram Nash, 87. April 15, Mrs. Emma Willard, 
S;^. September 26, Philander Wells, 77. October 7, Martin Russell, 
71. Oct. 22, Wm. F. Sage, Waterford. December 18, Henry I. 
Seymour, 46. 

187 1 — January 18, Henry Burden, 80. January 20, Hon. Jere- 
miah Romeyn, 63. April 6, Elias Johnson, Spuyten Duyvel, 65. 
April 26, Alfred B. Nash, 62. June 15, John B. Kellogg, 45. July 
27, Elijah Galusha, 67. August 8, N. S. S. Beman, D. D , 86. Oc- 
tober 21, Hugh Ranken, 56. November 4, Philander Acklcy, 58. 
November 13, Thomas Sausse. 64. 

1872 — May 5, Ralph Hawley, 66. June 10, Garret Van Schaick 
Quackenbush, 71. June 23. Charles P. Hartt, 54. July 3, Charles 
Veazie, 78. July 12, Z. H. P. Hale, 74. August 8, George Vail, 
88. October 31, John A. Griswold, 55. December 16, Joseph 
Wickes, 73. December 18, Jared G. Bacon, 67. 

1873 — January 20, Stephen Covell, 88. February 12, Charles C. 
Clark, one of the editors of the Press, Hudson, 32. February 26, 
Harvey Betts, 82. March 9, Simeon A. Cook, M. D., 72. May 
22, John T. Davy, 69. July 27, Nathaniel Bosworth, 82. Septem- 
ber I, Starr Clark, 41. September 16, Philo Dauchy, 82. October 
5, Stephen Viele, 66. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 3^3 

1874 — January 2, Elias Ross, 77. March 4, Charles S. Hcartt, 53. 
March 14, Edwin Brownell, 53. March 28, John T. Parker, 71, 
April, Henry Z. Hayner, New York, 72. April 30, Hon. Jonas Coe 
Heartt, 91. May 11, John L. Flagg, 39. May 26, Elias Dorlon, 
72. June 6, Capt. John W Mackey, 80 November 15, Rev. 
Truman Seymour, 76. November 29, Pliny M. Corbin, 73. De- 
cember 17, Luther McCoy, 72. 

1875 — January 11, Joseph W. Churchill, 77. January 13, Waters 
W. Whipple, 77. February 6, Titus Eddy, 71 March 4, George 
Tibbits, 50. March 9, Hannibal Green, 64. April 27, Plon. Jason 
C. Osgood, 72, April 27, Hanford N. Lockwood, 88. June 28, 
John A Ferriss, 64. July 19, C. L. Richards, 71. August 23, Hon. 
Jonathan Edwards, formerly mayor of the city. New Haven, Conn., 
77. October 25, Benjamin F. Cragin, 62. November i, Alonzo 
McConihe, 50. November 20, William H. Merriam, 43. Decem- 
ber 8, Paul Albertson. December 14, Capt. James Ostrander, 55. 
December 27, Stephen C. Dermott, 62. Edward Eddy, tragedian, 
West Indies, 54. 

1876 — January 11, Silas K Stow, 73. March 25, Jarcd S. Weed, 
68. April 17, Latham Cornell, 95. 



OPENING AND CLOSING OF NAVIGATION 

Of the Hudson River since 1789. 

Navigation Closed. Navigation Opened. 

March 23, 1789. 

February 3, 1790, March 27, 1790. 

December 8, 1790, March 17, 1791. 

December 8, 1791. 

December 12, 1792, March 6, 1793. 

December 26, 1793, - March 17, 1 794. 

January 12, 1795. 
January 23, 1796. 
November 28, 1796. 
November 26, 1797. 
November 23, 1798. 
January 6, 1800. 
January 3, 1801. 
February 3, 1802. 
December 16, 1802. 

January 12, 1804, ...April 6, 1804. 

December 13, 1804. 

January 9, 1 806, _ February 20,1 806, 

December 11, 1806, April 8, 1807. 

January 4, 1808, March 10, 1808. 

December 9, 1808. 
January 19, 1810. 
December 14, 1810. 
December 20, 181 1. 

December 21, 1812, March 2,1813. 

December 22, 1813. 
December 10, 1814. 
December 2, 1815. 

December 16, 1816, April 5, 1817. 

December 7, 181 7, March 25, 18 18. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 365 

Navigation Closed. Navigation Opened. 

December 14, 181 8, ..April 3, 1819. 

December 13, 18 19, March 25, 1820. 

November 13, 1820, ..March 15, 182 1. 

December 13,1821, March 15,1822. 

December 24, 1822, March 24, 1823. 

December 16, 1823, March 3, 1824. 

January 5, 1825, March 6, 1825. 

December 13, 1825, February 26, 1826 

December 24, 1826,. ..March 20,1827. 

November 25, 1827, February 8, 1828. 

December 23, 1828, ..April i, 1829. 

January 11, 1830, March 15, 1830. 

December 23, 1830,.. ..March 15, 1831. 

December 5, 1831,.. March 25, 1832. 

December 21, 1832, March 21, 1833. 

December 13, 1833, February 24, 1834. 

December 15, 1834, March 25, 1835. 

November 30, 1835, April 4, 1836. 

December 7, 1836, .March 28, 1837. 

December 13, 1837,..- ..March 19, 1838. 

November 25, 1838, ..March 21, 1839. 

December 18, 1839, February 21, 1840. 

December 5, 1840, March 24, 1841. 

December 19, 1841, .February 4, 1842. 

November 29, 1842,.. April 13, 1843. 

December 9, 1843, March 14, 1844. 

December 11, 1844, February 24, 1845. 

December 4, 1845, .March 15, 1846. 

December 15, 1846, .April 6, 1847. 

December 24, 1847, .March 22, 1848. 

December 27, 1848, .March 19, 1849. 

December 25, 1849, March 9, 1850* 

December 17, 1850, . . February 25, 185 1. 

December 1*3, 185 1, ..March 28, 1852. 

December 22, 1852, March 21, 1853. 

December 20, 1853, March 11, 1854. 

December 17, 1854, March 19, 1855. 

December 26, 1855, April 4, 1856. 

December 13, 1856, February 8, 1857. 



366 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Navigation Closed. Navigation Opened. 

January 15, 1858,... ..March 18, 1858. 

December 18, 1858, March 11, 1859. 

December 10, 1859, .March 2, i860, 

December 13, i860, March 4, 1861. 

December 23, 1861, April 3, 1862. 

December 19, 1862, .April 7, 1863. 

December 11, 1863, March 11, 1864. 

December 12, 1864, March 17, 1865. 

December 19, 1865, March 20, 1866. 

December 15, 1866, March 29, 1867, 

December 9, 1867,-. — March 20, 1868. 

December 9, 1868, March 15, 1869. 

December 6, 1869, Boat ran every month, 1870. 

Boat ran every month, March 9, 187 1. 

November 29, 1871, April 3, 1872. 

December 10, 1872,. April 11, 1873. 

December 23, 1873, — March 19, 1874. 

December 14, 1874, April 13, 1875. 

November 30, 1875, April 4, 1876. 



OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE CANALS 

From 1824 to 1875 inclusive. 



Year. 


Opened. 


Closed. 


Year. 


Opened. 


1824. 


.April 30, 


December 4. 


18^1. 


-April 15, 


1825- 


.April 12, 


December 5. 


1S52. 


-April 20, 


1826. 


-April 20, 


December 18. 


1853- 


-April 20, 


1827. 


.April 23, 


December 18. 


1854- 


-May I, 


1828. 


.March 27, 


December 20. 


185.S- 


-May I, 


1829. 


.May 2, 


December 17. 


1S56. 


-Mays, 


1830. 


.April 20, 


December 17. 


1857- 


-May 6, 


1831. 


..April 16, 


December i. 


1858. 


-April 28, 


1832. 


-April 25, 


December 21. 


1859- 


-April 15, 


1833- 


.April 10, 


December 12. 


1860- 


-April 25, 


1834- 


-April 17, 


December 12. 


1861. 


.May I, 


1835- 


-April 15, 


November 30. 


1S62- 


-May I, 


1836. 


-April 25, 


November 26. 


1863. 


-May I, 


1837- 


-April 20, 


December g. 


1864. 


-April 30, 


1838. 


.April 12, 


November 25. 


1865. 


.May I, 


1839- 


-April 20, 


December 16. 


1866. 


.May I, 


1840. 


-April 20, 


December 3. 


1867. 


.May 6, 


184I. 


.April 26, 


November 29. 


1868. 


-April 23, 


1842. 


-April 20, 


November 23. 


1869. 


.May I, 


1843- 


.May I, 


December i. 


1870. 


-May I, 


1844- 


-April 1 8, 


November 26. 


1871. 


-May 5, 


1845- 


-April 15, 


November 29. 


1872. 


-May 13, 


1846. 


.April 16, 


November 25. 


1873- 


.May 15, 


1847- 


-May I, 


December 21. 


1874- 


-May 5, 


1848. 


-May I, 


December 9. 


1875- 


-May 18, 


1849- 


-May I, 


December 5. 


1876. 


.May 4. 


1850. 


-April 22, 


December 1 1. 







Closed. 

December 5. 
December 16. 
December 20. 
December 3. 
December 10. 
December 4. 
December 15. 
December 8. 
December 12. 
December 12, 
December 10. 
December 10. 
December 8. 
December 8. 
December 12. 
December 12. 
December 8, 
December 5. 
December i, 
December 8, 
November 28. 
December 5. 
November 25. 
December 5. 
December 10. 



LIST OF STEAMBOATS 



On the Hudson R.ver, Plying Between Troy and New York, from 1807 
TO 1876 



Built. Name and No. Tons. 

1807. Clerrnont, to Albany. 

1808. North River, 165 tons, to Albany. 

1809. Car of Neptune, 295, " 

181 1. Hope, 280; Perseverance, 280; Paragon, 331, to Albany. 

181 2. Fire Fly, first steamboat running from Troy to Albany. 

1813. Richmond, 370. 

1814. Fulton, 327. 

1815. Olive Branch, 295. 

1816. Chancellor Livingston, 526. 

1817. Stoudinger. 

181 9. Henry Eckford. 

1823. James Kent, 364. 

1824. Hudson, 170. 

1825. Sandusky, 289 ; Bristol ; Constitution, 276 ; Constellation, 

276 ; Chief Justice Marshall, 300 ; Saratoga, 250. 

1826. Sun, 280; Niagara; New London; New Philadelphia, 300; 

Swiftsure ; Commerce. 

1827. Albany, 298; North America, 497 ; Victory, 290. 

1828. De Witt Clinton, 571. 

1829. Ohio, 412. 

1830. Novelty, 477. 

1 83 1. John Jay. 

1832. Champlain, 471 ; Erie, 472. 

1833. Helen, (Burden's Segar Boat.) 

1835. Robert L. Stevens, 29S ; John Mason. 

1836. Rochester, 491 ; Jonas C. Heartt ; Swallow, 426, 

1837. James Fairlie ; Utica, 340 ;United States. 

1838. Diamond, 398; Illinois. 

1839. Balloon, 204; North America, 491. 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 369 

1840. South America, 640 ; Troy, 724. 

1841. Columbia, 391 ; Rainbow, 230. 

1842. Curtis Peck. 

1843. Empire, 936 ; Knickerbocker, 858. 

1844. Trojan, 280. 

1845. Belle, 430; Express, 288; Niagara, 730; Rip Van Winkle, 

510; Hendrick Hudson, 1170; Oregon, 1050. 

1846. Thomas Powell, 739. 

1847. Alida, 900. 

1848. Isaac Newton, 1400 
1851. Reindeer, 1000. 
1S52. Golden Gate, 201. 
1854. Hero, 575. 

Francis Skiddy ; Commodore. 
1866. Sunnyside. 

Connecticut ; Vanderbilt. 
1876. City of Troy, 1500. 

47 



STATEMENT 

Of the Village and City Tax levied in Troy, from 1798 to 1875, 
inclusive. 

Year. Tax. Year. Tax. 

1798 -- $128 50 1827 $10,000 00 

1799 225 00 1828 16,000 00 

1800 No tax levied. 1829 12,000 00 

1801 577 50 1830 9,000 00 

1802 _ 350 00 1831 11,000 00 

1803 No tax levied, 1832 i5»ooo 00 

1804 310 00 1833 i5)Ooo 00 

1805 _ 715 00 1834 22,000 80 

1806 2,463 00 1835 25,000 00 

1807 900 00 1836 29,148 00 

1808 1,000 00 1837. 35»ooo 00 

1809 50000 1838 35,00000 

1810 1,000 00 1839 35»ooo 00 

i8n i>5io 42 1840 _ 35,000 00 

1812 1,212 45 1841 44,698 50 

1813 1,100 00 1842 86,100 00 

1814 1,200 00 1843 _ _ 110,256 00 

1815 No tax levied. 1844 108,150 00 

1816 4,500 00 1845 99,700 00 

1817 5,20000 1846 101,85000 

1818 3,000 00 1847 92,877 49 

1819 3,500 00 1848 79,850 00 

1820 2,750 00 1849 88,500 00 

1821 4,750 00 1850 106,000 00 

1822 3,000 00 1851 115,981 00 

1823 5,500 00 1852 131.477 45 

1824 6,00000 1853 " 121,92400 

1825 7,00000 1854 135,30800 

1826 7,000 00 1855 1531366 27 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 371 

Year. Tax. Year. Tax. 

1856 $149,470 77 1866 $360,574 96 

1857 152,164 77 1867 360,465 50 

1858 155,028 18 1868 321,562 50 

1859 147,64800 1869.. 397,189 18 

i860 142,507 90 1870 581,789 50 

1861 _ 143,856 65 1871 692,405 14 

1862 144,413 69 1872 460,87000 

1863 156,915 60 1873 515,220 00 

1864 433,609 75 T874 575,801 25 

1865 408.907 13 1875 519,555 19 



A TABLE 

Of the valuation of Real and Personal Property of the city of 
Troy, from 1825 to 1875, inclusive. 

Year. Real Estate. Personal. Total Valuation. 

1825. $1,362,481 $1,780,662 $3,143,143 

1826 i,557>5io 1,852,168 3,409,678 

1827 1,653,353 1,765,084 3,418,437 

1828 1,861,448 1,748,299 3,609,747 

1829. 1,867,471 1,687,158 3,554,629 

1830 --. 1,949,009 1,908,784 3,857,793 

1831 2,021,702 2,103,055 4,124,757 

1832 2,075,113 2,146,490 4,221,603 

1833.. 2,279,526 2,169,360 4,448,886 

1834 --- 2,343,618 2,156,775 4,500,393 

1835 2,551,047 2,328,194 4,879,241 

1836 3,029,256 2,511,528 5,540,784 

1837 2,974,334 2,246,244 5,220,578 

1838. 3,238,627 2,257,642 5,496,269 

1839 3,3^7,477 2,214,916 5,532,393 

1840-- 3,374,205 2,198,762 5,572,967 

1841 3,570,283 3,024,912 6,595,195 

1842 3,647,586 2,900,427 6,548.013 

1843 3,526,549 2,960,248 6,486,797 

1844- 3,719,779 2,720,836 6,440,615 

1845 3,837,997 2,938,326 6,776,323 

1846- 3,989,635 2,949,669 6,939,304 

1847 4,201,942 3,160,352 7,362,294 

1848 4,542,136 3,156,852 7,698,988 

1849 4,627,704 3,170,830 7,798,534 

1850 4,828,405 3,143,981 7,972,386 

1851 8,347,861 4,263,926 12,611,787 

1852 9,933,366 4,119,180 14,052,546 

1853-- -- 10,103,090 4,82.2,455 14,925,545 

1854 9,210,755 4,769,028 13,979,783 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 373 

Year. Real Estate. Personal. Total Valuation. 

185s- $9,133853 $5,173,812 $14,307,665 

1856. 8,545,720 5,052,58s 13,598,308 

1857- 8,207,270 5,089,^59 13,297,129 

1858 7,919,520 4,899,675 12,819,195 

1859 7,937,575 4,9i5,7i5 12,853,290 

i860.- 8,065,305 4,936,310 13,001,615 

1861 8,162,500 4,917,180 13,079,680 

1862 8,028,989 4,838,089 12,867,078 

1863-.- - 8,736,302 5,237,333 13,973,635 

1864... 8,978,124 5,633,144 14,611,268 

1865 9,171,505 3,195,283 12,366,788 

1866 9,271,445 5,438,636 14,710,081 

1867 9,513,037 3,567,163 13,082,200 

1868 9,705,830 4,793,598 14,499,428 

1869 10,535,585 5,649,591 16,184,176 

1870. 10,654,413 5,363,465 16,017,878 

1871 10,855,303 5,045,104 15,900,407 

1872. 11,130,573 4,238,786 15,369,359 

1873- - 11,285,263 3,878,660 15,163,923 

1874--- --- 11,608,290 3,833,555 15,441,845 

1875 11,734,360 3,836,000 i5;579,355 



A TABLE 

Showing the rate of the City, State and County Taxes in the City 
of Troy, on $ioo valuation, in each year, from 1825 to 1875, inclu- 
sive. 

Year. 

1825 

1826 

1827 

1828 

1829 

1830 _ 

183I-.. 

1832 

1833 

1834 

1835---- - 

1836 

1837 

1838. •- 

1839 --- - 

1840. 

184I 

1842 

1843 - - 

1844 

1845 

1846 

1847 

1848. 

1849 - 

1850 

185I 

1852 

1853 



Rate of 


State and 


Total Ra 


City Tax. 


County Tax. 


$0 24 


$0 23 


^o 47 


21 


20 


41 


33 


22 


55 


47 


26 


73 


37 


27 


64 


25 


34 


59 


28 


43 


71 


38 


33 


71 


36 


44 


80 


52 


33 


85 


52 


38 


90 


47 


33 


80 


70 


41 


I II 


66 


39 


I 05 


65 


36 


I 01 


65 


35 


I GO 


67 


33 


I GO 


1 30 


42 


I 72 


I 75 


39 


2 14 


1 75 


41 


2 16 


I 55 


35 


I 90 


I 53 


33 


I S6 


I 32 


36 


I 68 


I 10 


50 


I 60 


I 21 


49 


I 70 


I 38 


51 


I 89 


99 


33 


I 32 


I 16 


42 


I 58 


99 


42 


I 41 



i854- 
1855- 
1856. 

1857- 
1858. 
1859. 
i860. 
1861- 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873- 
1874. 
1875- 



TY OF TROY. 






375 


Rate of 
City Tax. C 


State 
ounty 


and 
' Tax. 


Total Rate. 


I 09 




45 


I 


54 


I 18 




61 


I 


79 


I 16 




60 


I 


76 


I 18 




60 


I 


78 


I 28 




65 


I 


93 


I 20 




59 


I 


79 


I 14 




88 


2 


02 


I 15 




79 


I 


94 


I 18 




02 


2 


20 


I 19 




45 


2 


64 


3 04 




66 


4 


70 


3 40 




93 


5 


33 


2 53 




72 


4 


24 


2 60 




86t\ 


4 


46tV 


2 22 




53A 


3 


75t=V 


3 ^8 




55t\ 


5 


23tV 


3 64 




58 


5 


22 


4 43to 




40i'o 


5 


84 


3 03 tV 




97 


5 


OOtV 


3 43 A 




74tV 


5 


i7t\ 


3 34x0 




84 


5 


18A 


3 35/0 




74 


5 


09tV 



TEMPERATURE. 



1789. .February 2, 6 a. m., 24 degrees below zero. 

1802.. Lowest 10 degrees above zero, highest 55^^ degrees ; not more 
than one and a quarter inches of snow fell during Decem- 
ber and January ; the ice at no time strong enough to bear 
teams. 



Year. DAY. 




LOWEST 




HIGHEST. 




Sun- 


12 M. 


3 P.M. 




1830. -February 7, 


-17 


4 


7 




1831.. January 21, 


-13 


-I 


7 




1832.. February 25, 


-13 


9 


13 




1833.. February 2, 


-II 


II 


19 




1 834.. December 15, 


-ID 


6 


10 


July 26, 94, noon. 


1835.. January 4, 


-28 


-10 


-4 


July 23, 102, I p. M. 


1836. .February 2, 


-20 










1837.. January 26, 


-15 


7 


12 




1838.. February i, 


-7 


II 


13 


July 10, 91, noon. 


1839.. January 24, 


-12 


7 


12 




1840.. January 17, 


-21 


-I 


8 


July 17, 94, noon. 


1841.. January 4, 


-12 


4 


8 


July 24, 92, " 


1 842.. December 24, 


-5 


4 


8 


July I, 93. 


1 843.. February 17, 


-15 


12 


18 




1844.. January 28, 


-12 





3 




1 845.. December 13, 


-9 


2 


8 


July 13, 95, noon. 


1 846.. February 19, 


-12 


9 


20 




1847.. February 24, 


-9 


22 


18 




1848. .January 11, 


-12 


4 


6 




1 849.. January 12, 


-II 


I 


6 




1 850.. December 31, 


-10 


2 


6 




1 85 1.. December 27, 


-9 


5 


6 




1852. .January 22, 


-8 


II 


II 




1853.. January 26, 


I 


II 


12 




1854.. December 20, 


-13 


I 


-5 




1855 . .February 6, 


-13 


-8 


-10 





HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



zn 



RECORD OF WARMEST DAYS 

AT TROV, N. v., FROM 1S56 TU 1875. 



BY JOHN W. IIELMSTREET. 



1856. 
1857- 



859- 



1861 



1862. 



Highest Temperature. 

-June 29, 98.0 

July 17, 99-0 

August II, - 87.0 

.June 28, 84.0 

July i3» 96-5 

August 14, 94.0 

-June 27, 92.4 

Julys,... 95-5 

August II, 90.0 

.May 8, 91.5 

June 29, 95-0 

July 12,.. 94-0 

August 10, .- 91.5 

September 27, 85.5 

.May 5, 82.5 

June 29, 97.3 

July 14, 94-0 

August 7, 96.3 

September 7, 85.0 

.May 27, 77.3 

June 10, _ 90.2 

July 8,-. , 92 .0 

August 3 and 4, . 92 o 

September 15, 80.5 

-May 17, 84.8 

June 28, 86 3 

July 6,.. 91.2 



August 9, 

September 7, 

1863. -May 22, 

June 15, 

48 



94-4 
86-5 
89. 2 
86 5 



Warmest Day, (Mean.) 

June 29, 91-37 

July 17, 90-87 

August II, -. 80.25 

June 28, 77.30 

July 19, 87-62 

August 14, 86.50 

June 27, 85.46 

July 10, 85.13 

August II, 77.00 

May 26, 75-26 

June 29, 83.20 

July 12, 84.83 

August 4,. 78.03 

September 27, 68.10 

May 13, 68.53 

June 29, 77-86 

July i5> --- 77-33 

August 7, 8o_ 70 

September 7, 72.96 

May 26, 66.60 

June 10, 79-36 

July 9, 80.43 

August 3, 82 _ 20 

September 15, 71-7° 

May 17, 72.16 

June 28, 75- 20 

July 6, 84-16 

August 9, 82.80 

September 7', 76.20 

I^Iay 22,- 75-76 

June 30, 74-36 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Highest Temperature. 

1863. .July 2, 88.0 

August 2, 92.5 

September 17, 90.0 

1864. .May 31, 89.5 

June 26, 95.3 

July 31, 96-0 

August I, 98.3 

September 3 and 27,. 81.5 
1865. .May 17, 88.5 

June 25, 91.2 

July 28, 90.3 

August 4, 91.5 

1866. -June 25, 96.5 

July 16, 98-0 

August 2, 86.5 

1867.. June 30,.. 90.5 

July 24, 94-0 

1868. .June 19, 88-0 

July 14 and 15, 100. o 

August 2 and 19, 89.0 

1869. .June 4, 85.0 

July 25, 89.5 

August 20, 90.2 

1870. .June 26, 96.0 

July 24, 96.5 

August 7, 93.0 

i87i..June 3, 95.0 

July 13, 92_3 

August 16, 93-0 

1872. .June 21, 94.3 

July I,- 95-0 

August 9, 92.5 

1873. .June 19, 94.2 

July 26, 95_8 

August I, 89.8 

i874-.June 29, 95.0 

July 15.-- 94-0 

August 12, 88.2 

1875.. June 24,.. 93 -o June 24, 



Warmest Day, (Mean.) 

July 7, 

August 3, 

September 17, 

May 31, 

June 26, 

July 18, 

August I, 

September 3, 

May 16,. 

June 17, 

July 28, 

August 3,... 

June 25, 

July 16, 

August 2, 

June 30, 

July 28, 

June 20, 

July 15, 

August 2, 

June 4,-.. 

July 25, 

August 20, 

June 25, 

July 24, 

August 7,. 

June 3, 

July 13, 

August 16, 

June 21, 

July I, 

August 9, 

June 29, 

July 26, 

August I, 

June 29, 

July IS, 

August 12,.. 



78.90 
82.23 
80-33 
75-93 
85-76 
83-26 
85.26 
70.40 
71-50 
79-73 
78.40 
81.40 
84.10 
87.70 

75-53 
80 _ 86 
83.00 
81.83 
90.26 
81.10 
76-03 
79.40 
81.16 

83-50 
85-10 

82-93 
81-50 
81.26 
81.70 
85-83 
87-43 
84-30 
84-60 
81.10 
78.60 
81.67 

84.17 
80.40 

83-87 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 379 

1875. Julys, 90-0 Julys* 78-12 

August 31, 88.0 August 16, 77.62 

Beginning with May, 1859, and thereafter, the readings are those 
of standard self-registering instruments, and are therefore absolute 
extremes. 

July, 1868, deserves more than a passing notice, as it has rarely 
or probably never been surpassed for intensity and long continuance 
of extreme heat. The mean temperature of the month was 79.39 
degrees, or 5.79 degrees above the mean of thirty-one years, and 
the temperature rose to 100 degrees on two days, viz : the 14th and 
15th. The lowest recorded during the twenty-four hours, on the 
same dates, were respectively 78.0 and 79 -o degrees. The ther- 
mometer also rose to 90 degrees and above on twelve days. 



38o 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 







vo w M T^J^fO^OC^'+ loco ■* N M ^VD 00 vo toOO rO N ^OMD fO 
w 00 0^ roo COOO '^ft^iOiorOf^NCO loOO ^ t^ '^ rO t-- t--00 00 

N ^O r~-O0 O r- lo -+ u-5 M ro fOCO OS t^ 0\ N "^ O *^ moO co O On 


g 
g 


W 




oso >-i 1-1 o^o roioo ot^ i--^ oi^iooooooi^ a\oo t-. a\ 

CN <N (N O Tt ►- CO lOO O O I^^i <^^< CN'^t'^lOONllVO M t}-N 




>■ 

o 


N OS U-) r^OO wior^O Mirjr^M Mr^O 0>00 Os^O i-i ro M m 
lO <-^ O 1-- -^ ro LOO &D 1-1 T^^^l-l r^co M MO m lot^OsiO-^O 

MrfiorOiONrOfO nn>-i>-iM(NmmmMioi-i'-iC^<N'+ 


o 


8 


N Mooco loO O O fso O r-~Oco loioioio'OfO'i- loco m ^o 
(N roiOt-iOC^ O 'to CN'i-Tj-t---tCO CNO O OOOO ThON't^ 

M Tt" w N N lo ^CO '^i-i'tM'-i^o wTtrONPjrO rovo ^ N 




w 


Ot^r^N -1 I"! i^O ONioi-iioOM O O O OioOr— 0\0 OO 00 \ 
OsM OnO\i-i Cn^OioOs Os-O lo lo O i-i OsOO wrOiONOsNOO 


.—3 


< 


^00 Ttw lO" 1-1 O roO r^O M loO lOO lOOOO Os»-.r-~i^CO 
MOO c^O O Ti-Tfioioi-i lO-tOsiororoi-i ^lorot 'tco O O 

MTj-MwNPO'^rOi-i^'-i'N e^fOf^iOMMwi-irOTj-roi-i 


o 

§ 


t3 


M 00 lO ro N fO fOOO Tf O ro O OsOO 0\ O lO O O M > O lOOO O 

ONWMOsOsi-iOtNi-iOsiOMONW't ^O i-i O 1 ro M OsO 

TfrJ-iofOfDtCiO^rON M LOM 1-1 iH N CJ ro 'to 1 O M lo Tf 


(4 


lO ^ lOOO rOOO rO<Nt^roOsiOi-orOOr^OiO>OM imOOO 
TtO N 'tM Osc^ MCOOOOOO OsO 1-1 I-I 'trO't i OnO M t^ 

r-^ ro 't fOOO rorO^O^^'t■<t't^^^-l^^fO't^o^^'t 'Niofon- 


<! 

s 


ro i-i woo lO f^O "to CO-tMOCNOfOioOr^ .MOOfO 
ONf^ 'tM 'tt^i-iOO OCO rOi^ON(NO Ot^rOioro i OO t^O 

fO'tt^rON'tr^'^i-it^'t i-i 'tNt^ lO'tiots 


<11 


t-.00 O IN OnCO wt-tNf)00'trjOrOOOOiO lOOOOCO 
t^ONioONO 1-1 i-ioo lo LOO N f) lo LO 't OS lo LO r) ' t^ Osco ci 

MroM-tNiorO rjh-ii-iNi-,roi-i--|-<N w ' tNro 




in 


O 't t^ Os r-o OsM IN r^ioi-iooco LOO lo lo o lo > Osoo lo lo 
LO M w 't OS to OS OsCO M^4r0Lo0J--0'tl-l0Os lOsiO ^O 

MriiHM'Tj-MwMM MN roi-iwrOMrow imn 


o 




'tNOsOs-^MNioi^OOCOLOLoNQOioOO ivhO r^O 
O 'too M Tt O LOOO rorOt^O i-iOO OsO Os OsO l>- ■ CO OO CO CO 


< 


n OO Osoo t^ N M cs lo LO tOX) OOOLoOi-iOO il^Nior^ 

-t 1-1 CO so OsO LoOsOsN OsI^O OstOiNCOCO N lO i NOOOO 

MU^M't'^rt-IN ,tl-l»-lMNMl-l INM IN N 


(A 

<; 
w 
> 


O t^OO Cs O 1-1 N CO ^ LOO f^ OS O M M ro 't loO t^CO Os O w 

M M c^ f) rorOtO'^rOrorOrOtOt^'t't't't't't't-tLOLr-. 

cocococooococ«cocococococococooocococooocococococo 







HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



381 



ill 


CSVD M fOCTNMCO I^M TtM ONMVOO w loCO O M w i^ M 


d 


CS w f) 


TfO r^r^J-^O lO'tO NOOVO '^^ -^vO O M ro Tf O 
r^ I^CO vo t^ rovo 10 w Cn rovo NVONOCOwOOOM 

rOMroNrOP)H,Mrl-rOM i_i-iTfi-.p-HMro m 





Cs ro 


r^ U-) Tj- cnco Tj-rj m moo r-rf't'+co ri Tj-r^u-jiom 
ro J— CN '^VD t^ ro vo vo CnO Cn loCO M t— t^ 10 M 

rONMrororOMTtiororic^w-^ MMNrOMN 





^ r- Cs 


MVO M r^ ^ M rioOOOCO OOOOt^ t— 00 t^vo -f 
Ti-MrowP)MMt^ rovo CO VO C^ lOCO CO roo 10 r^ '^ 

ONw rorOM C^ roroN N row row ro(N M ^low uo 




vo 00 
ro M c^ 

M C4 


loO f^ w lOCNTl-T^N M rhroOOOiOWOO VOOO 00 N 
uoO M roiorowOOvO t^w t^iorJ-rtO t^u-ir-t^rj- 

MTtMNTfrtro MNNrJ-i-ioOrOrOMMTl-MN 


6 


00 M 0\ 

^ r- 

r) ro HH 


to ON Tj-CO rovo Cn r- -J- C\ rocO Cs w-)\0 VO M ^ r^ t^OO 
OVO CsiO'^ioN OJVO Cnh-i riCO t^u-) CsCO o< r^ r-. 

'^MrONNOO'trii— 10 roi-^ro" loco rt" M Tf- 


►J 


Cn rfco 
i-i t^ 10 

ro ro M 


N t1- w ON N Tf VO lOVO NO M low ioCnw ^ O t^rOO 
rtr-iow CsroCscsvO OVOCO ■^rO'^O NMO Cnm -^ 

rfM roONN rt^'^rt-t-.w rororON M lot^io lovo 4- 




u^uou^'^ror^f^'tT^l^Tf^^oo w '^O Osuomco Cnm r- 
CO t^ '^so M mo vo 00 CN t~- M M r^vo 00 C\ r» 

Mi-Hrooro-i-Mrt-rowr-fN MOrorOioiO'+Tj- r-.ro 


< 


w »-- 
T}- rooo 


'^ 10 10 OnsO N w loror-rOlorO'tr^lo CnOO t- 10 
CN „ t^ ro M Tj-CO CNlOrl-CN':^t-rOO -* O t^CsN - 

wiorOroiNNro lONiON lOVO r« w ro tJ- m N cj 


2 

< 


OS u-5 ro 
(N U-5CO 

^ ro u^ 


r^i-iNOOOOOOOCO rooo rj r^toO Csrj M O "-i Osr^C 
M CO rovo ro ro M CO rovo CO ^r-( t^t^^-^tCO Cvror^ 

rOMVOMrO'-ivOi-iw'tr^i-irorONNC^wi-iiOM 



< 


ro On 
PJ C) M 


On M 10 HI Cs tooo 1-^ 't -+00 VO vo w On lo O lOVO vO 
10 M vo Cn roo *-- O lOCO O N O 00 lOCO r^O 00 't 

whH MNroro^rOrfwMNrororONrOwro 


03 


« ro roco ro-l-i-i O r^i-iNONO O mMDCOOO •^tI-wvO lO 
« Lo 10 ^ C) t-,vO CsNO VO lOCO On t^ CsOO ro O VO r^ w t--vO 

wrorii-i i-,MMMNpjr) mmj-h roiOMwriroM 


IS 
< 


Tj- M vo 

N M CJ 


r— row f^rOM « t^ioM roCNt^OCO Nvo w 
roo lOO w ^-^ro Cnno m rO 't ro On T^vo r>. rO On N 

Ni-<MNro roiort-MNMNforOTj-M rorON 


< 

> 


M ro ■+ 

LO U-> U-) 

00 CO CO 


lAvO r^OO ON i-i N ro ■* lOVO «^CO On O m m ro ^ li- 
10 10 <-0 10 lovO vOvOvovOVOvOvovovO r^t^l^r^r^r^ 

cooocooocococococococococococococococococo 


W M M 





INDEX. 



Abbott, Jonas, 47 

Academy, Troy, 344 

Adams, Elijah, 31 

Adams Island, 17 

Adams, James, I3I 

Adams, Nathaniel, 44, 85, 107 

Adams, Rev. Parker, 104 

Adancourt, Francis, 106 

Adelphi, Troy, 218 

Adriance, George C, 49 

Adriaens, Pietcr, 11 

Ager, Joseph W. 1S5 

Akin, M. D., Washington, 244, 250 

Akin, Thomas, 44 

Albany County, 10, 29 

Albany, 21, 42, 86, 267 

Albany Iron Works, 162, 261, 262, 

Albany and Rensselaer Iron and Steel 

Works, 261 
Albertson, John P. 206, 209, 297, 324 
Alden, Alonzo, 245, 302 
Aldermen of Troy, 281-296 
Alexander, Edward B., 256 
Alexander, Joseph, 54 
Allen, Captain fienjamin, 23 
Allen, David, 308 
Allen, George, 44, 109 
Allen, J. H., 245 
Allotment, Middle, 31 
Allotment, Northern, 31 
Allotment, Southern, 31 
Anderson, Elbert, Jr. 91 
Andreas, Stephen, 71 
Anthony, Asa, 31, 50, 66, ir8 
Anthony, Jesse, 174 
Anthony, Jesse B. 257 
Anthony, John, 223 
Anthony, Michael, 24 
Anthony, Zephaniah, 31 
Annexation of Troy and Lansingburgh, 

218, 253 
Apollo Lodge, 46, 47, 135, 158, 337 
Arba Read Steam Fire Engine Co., 223 
Armstrong, Ethan, 205 
Armstrong, Robert, 1 8 
Armstrong, S. C. 244 



Armitage, Captain J. W., 231, 232 

Arnold, Anson, 167, 179 

Arnold, H. 106 

Arts, John, 232 

Ashley, Captain Stephen, 22, 25, 31 

Ashley's Feny, 24, 25 

Ashley's Tavern, 28, 30, 45, 46, 50, 51 

Assemblymen, 303-306 

Association, Building, 206 

Troy Dramatic Building, 218 
General Relief, 231 
Troy Masonic Hall, 257 
Troy Scientific, 267 
Troy Young Men's, 170, 266, 
353, 355 

Assessors, 29, 273-274 
Duties of, 54 

Atkins, Stephen, 44 

Attorneys, 30, 199, 266, 324 
District, 309 

Atwood, Cole & Crane, 199 

AveriU, Horatio, I9I 

Ayres, John, 1 54 

Babcock, George, 223, 231, 257 

Bacon, Joseph, 47 

Bacon, Phineas, 1 8 

Baker, Ebenezer, 18 

Baker, John, 44 

Baker, Elisha, 47 

Baker, Lorenzo, 171 

Baldwin, D. D., Rev. George C, 174, 
193, 208, 219, 315, 318 

Ball, John, 171 

Ball, John P. 222 

Ball, L. Chandler, 244 

Bancker, P'lores, 23 

Bancroft, Rev. George C. 317 

Banks, loi 

Bank of Troy, 90, 250 
Central National, 209, 321 
Commercial, 186 
Farmers', 69, 131, 149, 250 
First National, 249, 322 
Market, 211, 321 

Manufacturers' National, 210, 321 
Merchants & Mechanics', 159, 321 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Banks — continued. 

Mutual National, 200, 321 
National Exchange, 322 
National State, 209, 321 
Red Dog, 186 

Troy City National, 167, 321 
Troy Savings, 131, 199, 258, 321 
Union National, 208, 220, 321 
United National, 250, 322 

Barber, Bela, 131 

Barber, James, 17, 18 

Barber, John, 18 

Barlow, Rev. Joseph L. 244 

Barott, Andreas, 18 

Barney, Daniel, 49 

Barney, John, 44, 135 

Barrows, John, 31, 39 

Barton, Ebenezer C. 179 

Barton, Robert, 77 

Barton, William, 208, 21S, 223, 227 

Bates, Rev. Merritt, 195 

Battershall, L. A. 208, 219, 220 

Battin, Joseph, lg6 

Battler, Solomon, 18 

Bayeaux, Captain H. F. 123 

Beach, Miles, 227, 251, 279 

Beach, "William A. 212, 266 

Beck, Prof. L. C, 147 

Beck, T. Romeyn. 147 

Becker, Lawrence L. 223 

Bedell, Rev. William, 317, 319 

Behan, Christopher, 296 

Bell, Independence Hall, 260 

Bells, Fire Alarm, 2H 

Bells, Troy, 264, 330 

Beman, D D., LL. D., Rev. N. S. S., 
127, 154, 156, 172, 208, 224, 318 

Benedict, M. D., H. E., 244 

Benedict, Le Grand, 232 

Benham, Jesse, 31 

Bennett, Fellows & Co., 264 

Bennett, Lyman, 174, 20S, 220, 249 

Bennet, Samuel, 18 

Benson, D. P. 245 

Benson, Joseph, 18 

Bessemer Steel, manufacture of, 262 

Betts, Benjamin, 71 

Belts, James, 31 

Betts, Nathan, 97 

Bctts, Thomas, 77 

Bible Society, Rensselaer Co., 104, 350 

Bigelow, E. io3 

Bigelow, Thaddeus B. 164, 167, 170, 
191 

Bills, Alfonzo, 204, 250 

Bingham, Anson, 212 

Bird, John, 31, 46, 47, 50, 73, 266 

Bishop, Jacob, 31. 156 

Blair, George T. 302, 308 



383 



Blatchford, Rev. Samuel, 28, 104, I47 

Bliss, Mrs. Charlotte, 72 

Bli.ss, William M., 49, 81, 27 

l51oss, R. D., 232 

Boardman, John, 25 

Boats, Paper, 251 

Boies, James, 49 

Boght, the, 26 

Bompis, Reuben, 18 

Bontecou, M. I)., Reed B. 232 

Bosworth, Foster, 279, 302 

Boughton, Josiah, 185, 186 

Bourke, Rev. Wm. J. 317, 319 

Boutelle, G. "". 246, 249 

Bouttell, Jedediah, 44 

Bouton, Josiah, 205 

Bouton, Nathan, 156 

Bowen, Rev. J. E. 317, 319 

Boyd, George, 18 

Boyd, William, 18 

Boyle, Charles, 49 

Bradley, William, 69, 70, gi, 107, 121, 

131, 156 
Bradt, Daniel B., 29 
Bradstreet, Samuel, 49 
Brainerd, W. H. II., 250 
Bread Bakers, III 
Breck, D. H. 44 
Breuster, Benjamin, 18 
Breuster, Samuel, 18 
Brewer, James M. 297 
Breweries, 163 
Brewster, Henry, 49 
Brick making, 13 
Bridge, Albany, 97 

R. & S. R. R., 177, 211 

Troy Company, 75 

Troy & West Troy, 258 
Brinckerhofif, Mead & Co., Isaac, I02 
Brinckerhoff, William, 173 
Brintnall, Joseph, 44, 75 76, 77 
Brintnall, Lemuel, 174 
Brinsniade, M. D., Thomas C. 171, 23I, 

266 • 
Briggs, Amos, 207 
Britton, John G., 206 
IJrooks, Israel, 18 
Brooks, John W. 199 
Broughton, Stephen, 186 
Brewer, Abraham, 166 
Brown, Alfred, 49 
Brown, David, 29 
Brown & Fields, 265 
Brown, Jonathan, 29, 36, 54, 6g 
Brown, Justus, 18 
Brown, Nehemiah, T54 
Brown, Rev. Stephen D. 217 
Brownell, Frank E., 233 
Bryans, Richard S. 186 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



384 



Brush Factory, 163 

Brush, John, 135 

Buchanan, A. Jr., 24^ 

Buckingham, Gideon, 154 

Buckley, Thomas, 251 

Budget, Northern, 53, 333 

Buel, CLarence, 230, 234, 245, 280 

Buel, David, 49, 54, 56, 73,160, 297,302 

Buel, David, Jr. 99, 104, 114, 126, 131, 142 
156, 160, 179, lg6, 208, 307 

Buel, James, 2io 

Building Association, 206 

Buildings, Value of, 25 1 

Bull, Archibald, 81, 307 

Bull, Capt. A. 123 

Bull's Head Tavern, 97, 136 

Bullions, Rev. Peter, D. D., 173 

Burden, Henry, 166, 1C7, 176, 252, 262 

Burden, I. Townsend, 263 

Burden Iron Works, 262 

Burden, James A. 263 

Burden, William F., 251, 263 

Burdett, George C. 297 

Burgoyne, General, 17, 18 

Burns, Daniel, 296 

Burns, Joseph, 296 

Burns, Samuel, 18 

Burr, Jonathan, 90, loo 

Burritt, M. D., Ely, 81, 104, 114, 120 

Burrows, S. 170 

Bush, Calvin, 244 

Bush, James C. 244 

Bushnell, C. S., 234 

Butler, Rev. David, D. D., 58, 72, 73. 74, 
155. 156 

Byly, John, 18 

Cadwell, Lorenzo, 171 

Caft'ry, John, 232 

Caird, Rev. James, 315, 319 

Caldwell, James, 27 

Camp, M. D., N. II. 246 

Campbell, Henry, 18 

Canals, 39 

Erie, 105, 132, 152, 178, 205, 268 
Champlain, 152, 205, 268 
Opening and closing of, 367 

Cannon & Co., Le Grand, 199, 261 

Cannon, Le Grand, 160, 166, 191, 2IO 

Caraseau, John, 172 

Garden, P., 244 

Garner, John, 18 

Carnell, Benjamin, 49 

Carpenter, Daniel, 31 

Carpenter, John, 49, 54 

Carr Joseph B., 232 

Carr, Willliam, 18 

Carriage Factories, 163 

Carroll, Thomas B., 206, 219, 279 

Carter, Edward, 296 



Gary, D. J„ 245 
Cassidy, Michael, 232 
Catlin, I. R„ 170 
Catlin, Pope, 205 
Catlin, M. D., R. F. 246 
Cathcart & Co., Andrew, 31 
Cavalry, Griswold, 249 

Harris, 234 
Cemetery, Oakwood, 208 
Census of Troy, 313 
Chamberlains of Troy, 297 
Chamberlin, Frank, 244 
Chapin, Edward, 223 
Chapman, Josiah, 76, 77 
Chase, Rev. Philander, 72 
Cheever, Major S. 122 
Chichester, Rev. Elijah, 71 
Chichester, Jeremiah, 159, 164 
Chief Justice Marshall, The 150, 160 
Childs, Leander, 77 
Chollar & Jones, 199 
Christie, George, 204 
Christie, John S., 210 
Christie, Robert, 123, 179 
Christmas, 63 
Churches, 80, 195, 196, 199, 230, 314 

Bethel, 172 

Christ Church, 185, I95, 314, 315, 
318 

Church of Christ, 316, 317, 320 

Church of the Holy Cross, 193, 195, 
196, 230, 314, 315, 319 

Congregational, 172, 195 

Congress St. M. E., 204, 316, 317, 
319 

Disciples, 185, 196 

Dutch Reformed, 195 

Free Church of the Ascension, 253, 
314, 315. 319 

First Prcsbyteran, 31, 32, 43, 45, 
47. 50, 65, 72, 88, 96, 104, 156, 
174, 195, 224, 230, 314, 315, 318 

First Baptist, 43, 112, 155, 193, 196, 
230, 314, 315, 318 

First Unitarian, Ig8, 258, 316, 317, 
320 

Gei-man M. E., 316, 317, 319 

German Lutheran, 316, 317 

Jewish, 249, 316, 317, 320 

Levings' Chapel M. E. 316, 317, 

319 
Liberty St. Presbyterian, 172, 195, 

247, 314, 315,318 
Methodist Episcopal, 71 
Ninth Presbyterian, 314, 315, 31S 
North Baptist, 190, 196, 210, 224, 

230, 314, 315 318 
North Second St. M. E., 174, 196, 

217. 316,317,319 



1 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



385 



Churches — continued. 

Oakwood Presbyterian, 314, 315, 

31S 
Park Presbyterian, 217, 230, 314, 

315. 31S 
Second Baptist, 174, 196, 314, 315, 

318 
Second Presbyterian, 154, 157, 165, 

195.314,315.318 
Second Street I'resbytcrian, 1C6, 

195, 314. 315, 318 

South Troy Baptist, 314, 318 

St. Francis, Roman Catholic, 316, 

317, 319 
St. Jean fiaptiste, Roman Catholic, 

252, 316, 317, 319 
St. John's, Episcopal, 160, 196, 216, 

2x8, 230, 314, 315, 318 
St. Joseph's, Roman Catholic, 316, 

317.319 
St. Lawrence, Roman Catholic, 
_ 316, 317, 319 

St. Luke's, E;)isco])al, 314, 315, 319 
St. Mary's, Roman Catholic, 1S9, 

196, 230,316, 317, 319 

St. Rlichael's, Roman Catholic, 316, 

317. 320_ 
St. Patrick's, Roman Catholic, 316, 

317. 319 
St. Paul's, Episcopal, 65, 72, 155, 

160, 165, 195, 230, 314, 315, 318 
St. Paul's Free Chapel, Episcopal, 

314, 315.319 
St. Peter's, Roman Catholic, 157, 

196, 316, 317, 319 
State Street M. E., 157, 196, 316, 

317. 319 
Third Presbyterian, 164, 314, 315, 

318 
Third St. M. E., 316, 317 
True Wesleyan Methodist, Ig6 
Westminster Presbyterian, 314, 315, 

318 
Woodside Presbyterian, 252, 314, 

315.318 
United Presbyterian, 173, 314, 315, 

318 
Universalist, 131, 174, 316, 317, 320 
Vail Avenue Baptist, 314, 315, 318 
Vail Avenue M. E., .316, 317 
Zion Methodist, 187, 196, 316, 317, 

319. 
Church Furniture, 64, 65. 
Churchill, George, 296 
Churchill, Lee, 232 
City Hall, 258 

Officers, 279 

of Troy, 259 
Citizens' Steamboat Company, 259 



Clark, John, 17, 18 

Clark, Nathan, 44 

Clark, Otis G. 190, 249 

Clarke, Asalph, 164 

Clay, Hon. Henry, 167, 204 

Cleaver, Rev. Joseph Bradford, 317, 320 

Clcminshaw, Charles, 257, 349 

Cleminshaw, Edwin, 174 

Clerks, City, 298 

County, 29, 310 

Town, 30 

Office, County, 29, 54, 90 

Village, 272 
Clergymen, 199, 266, 318 
Clermont, The 83 
Clinton, De Witt, 106, 116, 125 
Clock, Town, I36 
Close, Eliphalet W. 54 
Close, John T., 90, 100 
Clowes, Thomas, 2S0, 302, 308 
Coaches ISIanufactured, 186 
Coe, Mrs. Eliza II. 72 
Coe, Rev. Jonas, D. D., 31, 32, 45, 47, 
50, 56. 57. 58, 65, 72, 73, 88, 104, 126 
Coeymans, Barent Pieterse, li, 12 
Coeymans, Lucas Pieterse, li, 12 
Cohoes Falls, 10 
Coin, Spanish, 33 
Coit, Charles T. 205 
Colamore, Samuel, 30 
Colby, Augustus, 232 
Colehammer, Andrew, 18 
Coleman & Rodgers, 192 
Coleman, Thomas, 170, 249 
Coleman, W. B. 245 
Collar and Cuff Business, 264, 330 
Collectors, Village, 272 
College, St. Peter's, 221 
Collier, Thomas, 71 
Collins, Job, 77 
Collins, William, 44 
Collyer, John A. 82 
Columbia County, 10 
Colvin, James A. 245 
Comiskey, David, 244 
Comptrollers of Troy, 297 
Company, Albany &. Rensselaer Iron & 
Steel, 261 
Troy & West Troy Bridge, 258 
Troy Gas Light, 196 
Concklin, William, 17 
Conners, Patrick, 245 
Connor, R. D. 245 
Conrad, Frederick, 18 
Constables, 29 

Converse, Lieut. Ale.x. B. 123 
Converse, John, 96, 162, 163 
Cook, James, 166 
Cook, Mrs. Philena, 39 



49 



386 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Cook, Stephen, 44 

Coon, Hiram, execution of, 251 

Coons, Peter, 18 

Cooper, William, 18 

Coopering establishments, Chichester's 

163 
Cooper, M. D., William S. 244, 250 
Corbin, Pliny M. 208 
Corey, John, 156 
Cornell, D. E. 244 
Cornell, Ezra, 199 
Cornell, Latham, 164 
Corning, Erastus, Sr. 252, 261 
Corning, Erastus, Jr. 262 
Corning, Gurdon, 99, 106, 109, 121, 126, 

136, 279 
Corning & Co., G. 102, iiS 
Corning, Winslow & Co., 234 
Coroners, 29 
County Court, 29, 30 
Officers, 307, 312 
Court House, 36, 37, 54, 157 
Court House bell, 66 
Covell, Benjamin, 22, 23, 31, 34, 35, 40, 

59 
Covell, Silas, 22, 43 
Cowee, David, 220, 223 
Cox, David B. 20S 
Cox, William, 253 
Craft, Hart & Pitcher, 153 
Craft, Moses, 79 
Cragin, Benjamin F. 257 
Cramer, George H. 250, 251 
Cramer, John 90, 100, 147, 166 
Crandall E. A. 223 
Crandall Levin, 244 
Crannel, Isaac, 18 
Crannel W iUiam, 18 
Craver John. 18 
Cross, George, 205 
Cross, James A. 232, 246 
Crossen, Asa, 25 
Crowns, English, 35 
Cruikshank, Robert, 173 
Curtis, Caleb, 71 
Curtiss, Daniel, Jr., 48 
Gushing, A. D. 167 
Cushman, John P. 81, 106, 136, 159, 166, 

191, 280 
Customs of the People, 58 
Dalaby, James, II4 
Dam, State, 132 
Dana, Stephen W. 159, 1S6, Igl 
Darling, Ebenezer, 29 
Dater, Jacob, 97, 164 
Dater, Philip, 97 
Dater & McMurray, 163 
Dauchy, Charles, 196 
Dauchy, H. B. 349 



Dauchy, Jeremiah, 90, 126, 154 

Dauchy, Nathan, loo, 107, 156, 164 

Dauchy, .Samuel, 186 

Dauchy, S. S. 223 

Dauchy, S. W. 223 

Dauchy & Smith, 102 

Davis, George R. I17, 123, 167, 179, 302, 

307 
Davis, Jonathan, 31, 66 
Davis, Lemuel II. 196 
Davis, Richard, Jr. 90 
Davis, Thomas, 49, 50, 53, 73, 85, 88, 

118, 120 
Dean, Amos, 171 
Deaths, dates of, 358 
Debtors imprisoned, 77 
De Camp, Henry, 32 
De Camp, John, 32 
Deer, 9 

DeForest, Abel, 44 
Deforest, David, 108 
De Forest, William, 44 
De Freest, Charles R., 298 
De Friest, David, 29 
De Ilooges, Anthony, il 
De Laet, Madame Johanna, II 
Demers, George W. 230 
Deming, C. 170 
Dennis, Aaron C. 164 
Depot, Union, 210, 223 
Derrick, S. Nelson, 349 
De Witt, Rev. A. 315, 318 
De Witt, Simeon, 147 
Dickens, John, 31 
Dickinson, Benjamin, 44 
Dickinson, John D. 30, 31, 69, 70, loo, 

lor, 102, 106, 114, 136, 147, 152, 167 
Dimond, William, 244 
Directory, Troy, 159, 332 
District Attorneys, 309 
Disturnell, John, 159 
Docks, extension of, 208 
Dody, Joseph, 18 

Dole, Captain Sidney, lOO, 102, 103, 104 
Dole, James, 31, 47, 49 
Doolittle, M. D., Daniel, 81 
Door numbers, 159 
Dongan, Governor Thomas, 12 
Dorlon, E. P. 167 
Dorlon, E. & W. 192 
Dorset, Lawrence, 30, 31 
Dow, Lorenzo, 71 
Doughty, W. II. 251 
Doughty, S. G. 205 
Douglas, J no. 17 
Douglass, Alanson, 82. 90. loo, 131, 159, 

308 
Douglass, Hon. Stephen A., 227 
Douglass, William. 18 



I 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



387 



Douglass, William D., 29 

Dougrey, James, 164 

Draft, the, 247, 249 

Drake, F. 223 

Dress, 58, 59 

Drew, Daniel, 220 

DriscQll, Rev. Michael 317, 320 

Dunbarr, John, 18 

Dunbarr, Robert, 18 

Dunn, Daniel, 296 

Dupin, D. Latour, 44 

Durfee, Z. S. 262 

Durham, Isaiah, iS 

Duryea, Rev. J. T. 233 

Duscnberry, Charles E. 249 

Dutch Republic, 10 

Dutch words, 67 

Dwellings, 60 

Easter, 63 

Eaton, Prof. Amos, II4, II5, I17, I47, 171 

Eaton & Gilbert, 186, 210, 234 

Eaton, Bingham L. 171 

Eaton, E. O. 227, 250 

Eaton, Orsamus, 163 

Eaton, Rev. J. W. 245 

Eaton, Thomas B. 245 

Ebbink, Jeronimus, 1 1 

Eberson, Rev. B. 317, 320 

Eddy, Charles, 249 

Eddy, Henry T. 170, 171 

Eddy, Rev. Clarence 315, 318 

Edgcrton, Sheldon & Osborn, 213 

Edson, O. W. 264 

Edwards, A. F. 206 

Edwards, Jonathan, 279 

Eggleston, Zina P. 174 

Egolf, Joseph, 246 

Eldrdge. M. D., Hezekiah, 81 

Eldridge, Stephen, 154 

Ellicott, Joseph, 106 

Elliott, A. B. 336 

Ellis, D. N. 223 

Ellis, Lyman, 49 

Ellis, Marvel, 47, 49 

Ells, John L. 206 

Ellsworth, Capt. Elmer E., 217, 233 

Elmendorf, Peter E., 30 

Emigrants, 19 

Emigration, 50, 204 

Enos Jo::eph 135 

Ente-'tainments, 39, 78, 158 

Ericsson, John, 234 

Esmond, F. S. 244 

Evans, Samuel, 18 

Executions, 173. 197, 203, 251 

Express Companies, 187 

Factory, Albany Nail, 162 

Spike, 162 

Troy Cotton and Woolen. 162 



Factory — continued. 

Troy Iron and Nail, 162 

Troy Woolen. 162 
Failures, commercial, 184 
Farmers, Early Dutch, 15 
Farmers' Oracle, 184 
Farnam, F. W. 253 
Farr, Rev. A. A. 204 
Farrar, Rev. H. C. 317, 319 
Fassctt, John V. 179 
Fassett & Selden, 148 
Fassit, Jonathan, 44 
Flax, g, 15 

Frats, Casper, 24, 31 
Frazer, John, 18 
Frazer, Samuel, 18 
Frazer. William, 28, 29, 67 
Feller, Phdip, 44 
Fellows, Abraham, 171 
Fellows, Captain, 31 
Fellows, Jacob, 18 
Fellows, John P 102, 107 
Fenian Company, 250 
Fenian Congress, 250 
Ferguson, D. 245 
Ferguson, Rev. S. D. 174 
Ferry, 13, 22, 25, 53, I16 
Ferry boat, horse, 116 
Ferry boat upset, 217 
Ferry Hook, 22, 26 
Ferry house, 13 
Filer, Zephaniah, 44, 56, 121 
Files, 329 
Fine, John S., 18 
Fink, E. 244 

Finney, Rev. Charles G. 156 
Fire of 1820, 117 
Fi.e of 1848. 200 
Fire of 1852, 2IO 
Fire of 1854, 212 
Fire of 1862, 235 
Fire Companies and Engines, 50, 5I, 71, 

90. 164, 232, 267, 299 
Fires and alarms, 52, 66, S3, no, 122 
Fire Engineers, 278, 301 
Fire Wardens, 275, 276, 277 
Fireplace, great kitchen, 15 
Fish, 9, 66, 96, 113, 152 
Fisher Nicholas, 18 
Fisk, Cowee & Co.. IiB 
Fitch, Andrew, 164 
Fitzgerald. Anthony, 296 
Fitzpatrick, S. J., Rev. John, 317 
Fitzsimmons. Charles, 249 
Flagg, John 231 
Flagg. John L. 258, 279 
Flagg, Mclzar, 160 
Flint, Luther A. 296 
Flouring Mills. 163 



388 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Follet, John, iS 
Fonda, James R. 2i8, 302 
Fonda, Nicholas, 30 
Foote, Ebenezer, 81 
Foote, Hon. H. S., 227 
Forman, Mrs. Hannah, 72 
Forsyth, James, 210 
Forsyth, NeLon, 220 
Fort George, 16 
Fort, Jacob A. 54, 104 
Fort Orange, 10, 1 1 
Forwarding business, 205, 206 . 
Fosgate, Bela, 49 
Francis, George W. 170, 171 
Francis, John M. 20S, 333 
Francis & Thompson, 2o3 
Fratt, J. H. 246 
Freeman, John W. 208 
Freighting, 163 
Freiot, George 49 
Friends' Society, 75, 219 
Fryers, Abraham, 31 
Fuller, John, 49 
Fuller, Joseph W. 223, 251 
Fuller, Warren & Co., 234 
Fulton, Robert, 83 
Funerals, 63 

Furcotte, Rev. INI. F. 252 
Furnace, Troy Air 162 
Rensselaer Air 162 
Furniture, 60 
Fusileers, Troy, 85, 92 
Gager, George H. 245 
Gale, Benjamin, 24, 31 
Gale, E. Thompson, Ig6, 206, 223, 250, 

251 
Gale, John, 31 
Gale, John R. 231 
Gale, Samuel, jM. D., 23, 29, 31, 35, 38, 

40, 46, 55, 81, 266 
Gale, Samuel, Jr., M. D., 47, 81, 92, 100, 

102, 106, 119, 131, 302 
Gardinier, Capt. Henry H. 16, 29, 30 
Gardner & Co., Asa, 102 
Gardner, Daniel, 171, 179, 280 
Gardner, Jefferson, 264 
Garfield, John, 15S 
Garfield, Lyman, 179 
Garnett, Rev. Henry H. 172, 314, 318 
Garnryck, Zechariah, 75, 76, 77 
Gary, John, 131 
Gary, William, 1G6 
Gas Light Company. Troy, I96 
Gates, General, 18 
Gay, Willaril, 209, 223 
Genet, Edmund C. II7 
Geer, Gilbert, 190 
Geer, Gilbert, Jr. 296 
Gibbs, S. E. 174 



Gifford, John, 76, 77 

Gilbert, Asahel, 160 

Gilbert, Asahel, Jr. 164 

Gilbert, Liberty, 161 

Gilbert, Uri, 201, 206, 210, 224, 227, 

250, 251, 279 
Gilliland, William, 49 
Goessling, Rev. F. 317 
Goewy, Solomon, 18 
Goodrich, Chas. S. J. 160, 179 
Goodrich, Samuel, 71 
Goodnough, Levi, 44 
Goodspeed, Anthony, 40 
Gorham, Capt. A. 186 
Gorham, Shubael, 31, loO 
Gorham, Stephen, 29 
Gorton, Benjamin, 31, 44, 47, 112, 269 
Gould, George, 171, 203, 225, 266, 279 
Graham, William, 44 
Grand Army of the Republic, 343 
Grant, Elnathan F. 164, 167 
Grant, Gurdon, 159, 205 
Grapes, 9 

Gratz, Rev. F. S. 317, 319 
Gray, Archibald, 71 
Gray, Daniel, 29 

Green, Henry G., Execution of, 197 
Green, Moses C. 251 
Greenfield, Bethuel, 18 
Greenfield, William, 18 
Grenell, Thomas, 186 
Griffiths, P. Griffith, 206, 205 
Griffiths, Solomon, i3 
Grinnell, Richard, 27 
Griswold, Chester, 262 
Griswold, George, 166 
Griswold, John A. 196, 205, 227, 22g, 

231, 234, 247, 251, 258, 261, 262, 279 
Griswold & Co., John A. 261 
Griswould, Ephraim, l3 
Griswould, Jabez, i3 
Groyberger, Daniel, 18 
Guard, Troy Home, 231 
Gunnison, A. C. 211 
Gurley, Ephraim, 123 
Gurley, W. & L. E. 197, 234, 264 
Haddock, T. C. 232 
Hadley, A. K. 2or, 207 
Hagadorn, D. 244 
Ilagan, J. J. 246 
I lagan, W. E. 223 
Hagen, James, 77 
Hagen, Robert, 77 
Hagen, W'illiam, 170 
Haight, Wm. D. 154, 164, 166, 187 
Llale, M. D., Moses, 77, 81, 114, 147, 

266 
Half Moon point, i3 
Hall, Andress, E.xecution of, 203 



4 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY 



389 



Hall Biiilclini;, 120 

Hall, Benj. 11. 297, 325 

Hall, Daniel, 81, 97 

Hall, George C. 223 

Hall, Rowland, 29 

Hall, the City, 25S 

Ilalstcd, Alexander G. 2lo 

Hamil, John, 44 

Hamlin, Rev. Teunis S. 315, 31S 

Hammill, J. 106 

Hakes, Jeremiah S. 211 

Hakes, W. E. 244 

Haner, Philip, 18 

Hanks, Alpheus, 123 

Hanks, Julius, 121, 154, 165, 264 

Hanks, Truman, 123 

Hanna, Rev. \V. T. C. 174, 315, 31S 

Hannah, John, i3 

Hannon, Ed.,ar 1, 296 

Harpham, Jushua, 174 

HarisiDn, D. D., Rev. Franeis, 315, 318 

Harris, Judge Ira, 211 

Harrison, Henry, 232, 246 

Harrison, Timothy, 44 

Hart, Miss B. A. 220 

Hart, Isaac B. 2o5 

Hart & Nazro, 102, 120 

Hart, Philip Jr. 109 

Hart, Richard P. go, 100, 114, 126, 131, 

166, 167, 179, 183, 2/9 
Hart & Co. Richard P. 102, 118, 179 
Hart, William, 104 
Hartigan, Maurice, 296 
Hartshorn, C. A. 244 
Hartshorn, W. S. 245 
Harty, Thomas, Execution of, 173 
Harwick, Jost, 18 
Hasham, Stephen, 136 
Haskin, Wm. P. 164, 1C7 
Ha.-sett, Gdlis, 10 
Hatch, James H. 250 
Platch, Jonathan, 49 
Haver, Island, 18 
Havermans, Rev. Peter, 1S9, 204, 220, 

230,247, 317, 319 
Hawks, Benjamin, 2g 
Hawley, Frar.cis, 44 
Hawley, Lemuel, 73, 74, 107, 109 
Hawley, Ralph, 170, 171 
Hayner, Henry Z. 172 
Heart, William, 186 
Hcartt, Albert Pawling, 1 14 
ilearu, Jonas C. 97, 159, 179, 191, 196, 

206, 210, 231, 251, 279 
Heartt, Philip, 31, 43, 75, 100, 102, I17 
Hcartt, P. & B. 50 
Hcartt, P. & Sons, 119, 153 
Heartt, P. T. 208 
Heenan, John C. 221 



Hedges, Wicks & Co. 44 
Heimstrect, John W. 377 
Hemp, 9, 15 
Hemphill, Andrev,', 174 
Ilendryx, William, 49 
Hennicke, Emanuel, iS 
Henry, David, 29, 30 
Henry, John V. 30 
Hentlebceker, Conrad, 18 
Ilcrrington, Horace, 205 
Hervey, Rev. A. B. 317, 320 
Heven, Jacob, 11, 12 
Hickok, James, 69, loo 
Kickok, William, 29 
Hicks, Benjamin, 29, 36 
Hicks, George, 2ig 
Hicks, Rev. John A. 160 
Hicks, Rachael, 219 
Iligbie, Benjamin, 92, loo, loi 
Highways, Commissioners of, 30 
Hill, Eleazer, 18 
Hillebrand, August, 336 
Hillhouse, Thomas, 73, 75 
Hillman, Isaac, igo 
Hillman, Joseph, 204, 2ig, 323 
Hitchcock, George A. 232 
Hodgeboom, James L. 104 
Hodgkin, Thomas, 49 
Hogan, Stephen I\I. 296 
Hogeboom, Henry, 212 
Plogeboom, Jacob, 1 72 
Hogeboom, James L. 307 
Hogcll, Francis, 18 
Ilogles, 31 
Hogg, John, 18 
Ilolden, John S. 223 
Holmes, Michael, 245 
Ilolt, Aaron, 44 
Hollanders, 12 
Ilollcy, A. L. 262 
Holley, Myron, 106 
Holley, Oreille L. 147, 160 
Hollister, Nathan S. 1S7 
Hooker, Col. James, 205 
Home, Day, 228, 348 
Hooper, Charles, 170 
Hoosick Tunnel, 207, 268 
House, Abel, 31 
House, Asahel, 53 
House, John, go, 100, 1C6 
Houswirt, Michael, 18 
Hospital, the Troy, 204 
Howard, Rev. Leland, igo 
Howard, Leland, 133 
Howland, Gardner, 204, 220 
Howe, A. H. 234 
Iloyle, Henry, II7 
Hoyle house, 12 
Hubbard, Ruggles, 81, 91 



390 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Huberdault, Rev. G. 317. 319 

Huckett, George, 206 

Hudibras, American edition of, 83 

Hudson, Daniel, 49 

Hudson, Henry, g 

Hudson, John, 31 

Hughes, J H 245 

Hull, Hezekiah, 18. 29 

Hull, Rev. Justus, 104 

Hun, Abraham, 30 

Hunt, Alsop, 31 

Hunt, J. & A. 32, 33 

Hunt, Jonathan, 25, 31 

Hunt, Robert H. 262 

Hunter, John, 205 

Hurstfield, Charles, 77 

Huskings, Corn, 64 

Hutton, Christopher, 30, 36, 40, 56, 69, 

70 
Hutton, Peletiah, 257 
Hutton, Timothy, 30, 43 
Hyde, Joseph, 244, 250 
Ida Mills, 161 
Ide, Coit & Co. 205 
Importers, 153 
India Rubber Co., Troy 179 
Indians, ID, 82 
Infirmary, Marshall 208, 352 
Ingalls, Hon. Charles R.; Supreme 

Court Justice, 326 
Ingalls, Hiram, 208 
Ingram, Henry, 209 
Insurance Co., Mechanics' Mutual, 179 

Rensselaer & Saratoga, loO 

The Tioy, 164 
Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic, 147, 

243, 265, 345 
Introductions, 59 
Invincibles, Troy, 85, 92 
Ionic Club, ^9 
Iron, 329 
Iron "Works, Albany, 261, 262 

Burden, 262 

Rensselaer, 261, 262 
Irvin, D. D., Rev. William. 315, 318 
Jackson, Ephraim, 18 
Jacobs, Nathaniel, 29 
Jail, County, 44, 54, 157 
Janes, Elijah, 69, loi 
Jausen, Henry W. 232 
Jay, John, Election, 53 
Jefferson, Hon. Thomas, 30 
Jefferson, Thomas, 172 
Jefferson, Samuel, 1 72 
Jellico, Thomas D. 245 
Jenkin.s, George \V. 250 
Johnson & Cox, 199 
Johnson, Elias, 19O, 205, 211 
Johnson, Geer & Co. 199 



Johnson, John, 44 

Jolls, Egbert. 244 

Jones, Aaron. 77 

Jones & Co. 234. 264 

Jones, Daniel, 73, 81 

Jones, Ebenezer. 49, go 

Jones, E. P. 244 

Jones & Hitchcock, 213 

Jones, Samuel, 179 

Joslin, Prof. B. F. 171 

Joy, Benjamin, 44 

Judges, 29, 307 

July 4th Celebration, 45, 50, 368 

Justices, 29 

Keating, Capt. John, 46 

Keeler, Abner, 49 

Keeling, Adam, 31, 43 

Kellogg, A. & \V. 102, 118, 153 

Kellogg, Day O. 204, 207, 279 

Kellogg, Giles B. 170, 171 

Kellogg, Josiah, 27 

Kelly, John, 18 

Kemble, John C. 170 

Kemp, William, 234, 279 

Kenny, Michael, 296 

Kent, Moss, 29, 30. 308 

Kenyon, R. Wells, 232 

Kerk, the Dutch, 16 

Kerr, John, 2o3 

Kersmis, 63 

Ketchum & Co., Joel, 102 

Keveny, Rev. James, 317, 319 

Kimball, Rev. H. D. 317, 319 

Kincaide, Robert, 31 

King, Abel, 49 

King. Alexander B. 257 

King, Charles, 63 

Kinney, S. W. 245 

Kirkpatrick, A. 334 

Kisselburgh, William E. 229, 234, 245 

Klien, Joseph, 49 

Knapp, Israel, 27, 31 

Knickerbacker, H. 1 17, 307 

Knickerbacker, John, 54, 166 

Knickerbacker, John, Jr. 29, 36 

Knight, Harrison & Paine, 234 

Knovvles, John, 49 

Knowlson, M. D., John, 245 

Knowlson, James S. 250 

Knox. John L. G. 223 

Koon, Hon. Henry, 131 

Kossuth, Louis, Visit of, 209 

Krol, Sebastian Jansen, lO 

Kronckhyte, Abraham, 18 

Kronckhyte, Hercules. 18 

Ladies' Benevolent Society, 72 

Ladue, Captain J. 123 

Ladue, James O 97 

La Fayette, Visits of Gen. 136, 151 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



391 



Laithe, Thomas P. 2150 

Lambert, John 85 

Lamport, John T. 170. 297 

Lancaster, Jose]ih, 105 

Lancasterian School, 105 

Land-slides. iSo, 1S6 1S7 211. 221 

Landon, Capt. John M 234. 2g6 

Lape. Jacob, 257 

Lape, Samuel, i3 

I-ane, \aron, 56, gi 

Lane, Derick. 29, 56. 75, 85. 88, q6 99. 

100, 104, liS. 131. 136, 139 145. 2C9 

297 
Lane, George, 17 
Lane, Jacob L. 97, 113 
Lane, Matthew, 1O6 
Langdon's Horse Boat, 116 
Langdyn & Co , John C 154. 157, 163 
Lanmg, W. L. 234 
Lansing Cornelius. 29. 30, 37 
Lansing Jacob A. 29 37 
Lansing, Sanders, 30 
Lansingh, Abraham J. 21 
Lansingh. John, 18 
Lansingh. Levinus. 18, 29. 31 
Lansingburgh, 21, 85, 267 
Lantrow, John, 96 
Laselle, Elias, 97 136, 186 
Laufira, Joseph, 232 
Laurie, James, 187 
Laureate Boat Club, 251, 349 
Lawrence, G. 249 
Lawyers, 81, 1^9, 266, 324 
Laybourn, Chris. 44 
Leake, F. 1S6 
Lee, George F. 196 
Lee, Joel, 166 
Lemon, George F. 244 
Lemon. James M. 201 
Lesley George, 205 
Lewis Russell \V. go 
Lcvcrzey. Lcvunus, 18 
Levi, Herman. 249 
Library, the Apprentices. 155 
Troy. 56 113, 171 
Troy Young Men's Association, 
170 266 
Lishting the Streets. 155 
Lincoln, Visit of President, 227 
Link, Calvin, 232 
Lively William, 172 
Lockwoid, C. N. 223 
Lockwcod, H. C. 205 
Lockwood, Hanford N. 90 147, 166, 

250, 279 
Lockwood, Samuel S. 102 
Lockwcod, Thomas. 49 
Lockwood, Thomas W. 20S 
Lockwood, William, 185 



I'Odges, 344 

Lotteries, 89 

Lott ridge, R. A. 229 

Lord, Russell, 49 

Loudon, M. D., John, 38, 40, 81,82, 107, 

109, 266 
Loudoi Henry, 170 
Lovett John, 30, 31 
Low & Co.. P. igg 
Lowrie Rev. M. B. 252 

Lubbcrde land, 9, 1 1. * 

Lundy, J. 257 
Luylckkcrland, 9 
Lyceum of Natural History, 77, 114, 117, 

150 
Lyman, Lewis, 121, 131 
Lynch, Rev. Wm. 315 
Lyon, Oliver, 85, 92, lOO 
Lyon, W. H. 245 
Mabbitt, Jonathan, 77 
MacArthur, Charles L. 232, 333 
Mac Donough, Commodore Thomas 

103 
MacGregor, Rev. Donald, 315, 31S 
IMadison, Hon. James, 30 
Malta Knights of 341 
Mallary, Joel, 208 
Mallory Capt. H. 123 
Mallory. Henry, 109, 131 
Mallory, J 106, 126, 136, 297 
Mandeville, Yalks, 24 
Mann, F. N. 160, 170, 203, 279 
Mann, Francis N. Jr. 296 , 

Mann & Co. James, 102 
Manners of the people, 58 
Manning J. A. 251 
Manning, Michael R. 296 
Mansion House, 97, 158, 159, 192 
Manufacturing companies, 264, 265, 346 
Manufacturing statistics, 329, 331 t 1 . 

Marcy William L. 81, 97, no, 123, 280 / 0/ /3Z6 
Market houses, 55, 81,186 *^ I 

Marks, Lewis, 249 
Marshall, Benj. 187, 199, 208 
Marshall, Francis, 44 
Marshall, Rev. James, 257 
Martin, Elbanah, 44 
Martin. Harvey, 172 
INIart in, Jonah, 29 
Martin, Thomas, 18 
Marvin, Matthew, 18 
Marvin, Seldcn E. 262 
Marvin, Stephen, Jr. 17, 18 
Masonic, excitement, Anti 158 
Masonic Hall Association, 257 
Masonic Societies, 337 
Masonic Temple, 25S 
Masters, Josiah, 29, 36, 104, 307 
Masters, Nicholas ^I. 308 



392 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Mastin, George, iS 

Matteson, Rev. L. J. 315, 318 

Matthew, Father, 209 

Maxcy, Rev. Jonathan, 43 

Mayors of Troy, no, 279 

McCall, Alexander, 170 

McChesney, Jolin, 31 

McClellan, Gen. George B. 249 

McClellan, Robert, 27, 31 

McClellan, Robert II. 30S 

McClintock,' D. D., Rev. John, 219 

McConihe, Alonzo, 250 

McConihe, Isaac, 95, 114, 159, 179, 1S7, 

219, 266, 302 
McConihe, Isaac Jr. 227-S-9-30, 247, 

279 
McConihe, John, 245 
McConihe, Samuel, 234 
McConihe, William, 232, 246 
McCoun, John, 49, 73, 269 
McCoun, John T. 166, 167, 170 196, 245 
McCoun, Samuel, 279 
McCoun, T. 251 
McCoun, Townsend, 49, 69, 99, loo, 106, 

log, 131, 166, 191 
McCoun & Co. T. 102, 118, 153 
McCoun s Mill, T. 109 
McFarlan, Jas. I56 
McGuire, John, 232 
McKown, James, 2g, 70 
McLean, Capt. 198 
McLean, M. D., Leroy, 232, 246 
McManus, Hugh, 18 
McManus, William, 308 
McNutt, Joseph G. 232 
McNulty, Wm. G. 246 
McPheeters, William, 232 
McRae, Farquhar, 156 
Meadow Creek, 13 
Meadows, Great lo 
Mechanics' Hall, 200 
Meneely & Co. 264 
Meneely & Kimberly, 260, 264 
Merris, John P. 44 
Merritt, Charles H. 164, 206 
Merritt, Daniel, 31, 69, 70, 73, 75, 76, 

96, 100, ll3 
Merritt, Isaac, 77, 102, 118 
Merritt, Isaac Jr. 171 
Merritt, Jacob, 76, 90 
Meteor, explosion of a 222 
Meteorological Record, 380, 381 
Middleburgh, 70 
Military Occupation, 248 
Military, Troy, 50, 85, 92, 100, 102, 104, 

122, 173, 202, 231, 356 
Militia Companies, 17 
Militia of Rensselaerwyck, l6, 67 
Milk, Benjamin, 2ij, 37 



Millard, J. A. 219 

Millard, Stephen, 18 

Miller, Folket, 18 

Miller, Leonard, l3 

Miller, William, Execution of, I97 

Milliken, Arthur, 135, 179 

Mills, Flouring, 163 

Mills, Rolling, 199 

Miner, Samuel, 47 

jNIinigh, Peter, 18 

Ministers, 266, 318 

Mission. St. John's Free, 253 

Mob, the draft, 246 

the fugitive slave, 224 
jM-o-slavery, 172 
St. Patrick's day, 183 
Moody, Dexter, 185 
]\Iofht, Hosea, 29, 69, 104 
INIofhtt & Co., Robert, 53 
Mohawks, the, lo, 82 
Mohegans, the, 10 
IMonitor, the, 234, 235 
Montgomery, Roliert, 29 
Monument, Washington, 208 
Mooney, Daniel, 234 
Moors, Alex. 44 
Moran, John, 247, 280 
IMorey, Charles E. 245 
INIorgan, Azro B. 250 
Morgan, Ephraim, 25, 29, 31, 40, 69, 75, 

102, 105, 131, 269 
Morgan, Jonas, 31 
Morgen, il 
Morris, William, 18 
Morrissey, John, 221 
Morrison, H. 257 
Morrison, James J. 223 
Morrison, John, 199 
Moss, John Le 49 
Mostyn, Rev. John, 315, 318 
Moulton's Coffee house, 46, 53, 71, 78, 

125 
Moulton, Howard, 44, 46, 47 
Moulton, Stephen, 44 
Mowris, Ca]Tt. Samuel, 122 
Mowry, Le Roy, 66 
Mulfoid, Rev. J. N. 315, 319 
Munsell's Annals of Albany, 84 
Murderess, the veiled, 211 
Murnane, M. 245 
Murphy, Edward Jr. 279 
Murphy, John J. 296 
Museum, the Troy, 158, 200 
Music, 266 

Myers, A. B. 232, 244 
Myers, Walter, 296 
Nalle, Charles, the fugitive slave, 224 
Nash, Cnpt. Abram, 66, 77 
Nash, Abraham. 166 



I 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



393 



Navigation Company, Northern Inland, 

39 

Western Inland, 39 
Navigation of the Hudson, 66, 154, 197 
Navigation, opening and closing of 364 
Nazro, Henry, 90 
Nazro & Curtis, 153 
Necrological list, 358 
New City, 21, 26, 42 
Newcomb, Simon, 1 17 
Newcomb, W. K. 244 
New Englanders, 21 
New Netherland, 9, 11, 21 
Newton, Abner, 2g 
Newspaper, the first Troy, 48 

The first daily, 160 
Newspapers, 266, 333 
New Year's day obsen'ance, iSo 
Nicolls, Governor Richard, 11 
Nieuw Stadt, 21 
Niles, Jonathan, 29, 36 
Nims & Co., 97 
Noble, Capt. Cornelius, 18 
Norton, Sylvester, 164 
Norton, William, 18 
Northern Centinel and Lansingburgh 

Advertiser, 22 
Nott, Rev. Dr. 221 
O'Brien, Thomas, 232 
O'Brien, William, 250 
Odd Fellows, Athenian Todge of, 208 

Order of, 340 
Odell, Jonas, 29, 37 
O'Donnell, Barney, execution of, 203 
Ogden, G. Parish, 251 
Olin, A. B. 209, 212, 231, 2S0 
Olin, J. S. 201, 2S0 
Olympus, Mount, 130 
Olmstead, W 246 
Olmstead, W A. 232 
Opera House, Griswold, 257 
Orangemen, 342 
Orvis, J. M. 206, 209 
Osborne, Jeremiah, 56, 81, 308 
Osborne, William, 186 
Osgood, Artemas, 107 
Osgood, f. C. 227 
Ostrander, Aaron, 29 
Ostrander, Evert, 190 
Ostrom, Ruelf, iS 
Ostrom, Thomas L. 174 
O'Sullivan, Daniel, 296 
Ottenhues, Rev. Joseph, 317, 319 
Otis, George li. 232 
Ouderdoiik, Abram J 17 
Ou.'.e Stadt, 21 
Oudthout. Henry, 27, -^r 
I'aasch, 63 
Rnddock, Job 18 



Pafracts Dael, 9 

Paget, John, 18 

Page, Josiah W. 49 

Paine, Amasa, 81, 102, 106, 126, 280 

Paine, John, 131, }66 

Palmei, George, 166 

Palmer, Lieut. W. 122 

Piatt, Ananias, 27 

Pamser, Christopher, 18 

Paper Mill, 38 

Park, 71, 160 

Park, Sidney, 232 

Park, Sidney W. 246 

Parker, Andries, 18 

Parker, Wm. S. 73, 74, 76, 77, 85, 120 

Parker & Bliss, 89, 106 

Parmely, Amos, 44 

Parmelee, Charles C. 307 

Parmelee, Elias, 100, 147 

Parmentei. F. \V. 234 

Parmenter, Jerome B. 245, 336 

Parmenter, R. A., City Attorney, 326 

Partridges, 9 

Pastors, 266, 318 

Patchin, M. D., Aaron D. 81 

Patrick, Jesse, 164 

Patroon, 9, 13 

Pattison, Elias, 156, 159, 179 

Pattison, John, 108 

Pavements, 259, 218 

Pawling, Albert, 27, 29, 31, 36, 90, 99, 

106, no, 136, 269, 279 4 

Peace, Treaty of, 103 
Pease, John, 31, 40 
Peck, Garrit, 18 
Peck & Hillman, 220 
Peckham, Samuel, 77 
Peckham, Reuben, 223 
Peebles, Hugh, 70, 73, 99, 100, 106,107, 

109, 120 
Pendleton, Wm. 44 
Pens, Manufactory of Steel, 1S6 
Penfield, Nelson, 244 
Pengross, James, 44 
Penniman & Co., Obadiah, 77 
Penniman, Sylvanus J. 77 
Perkins, James, 18 
Perkins, Joseph, 18 
Perkins, S. D. 232 
Perry, Amos S. 196, 205, 245, 297 
Perry, John S. 171, 206, 2^-j 
Pheasants, 9 
Phillips, George H. 296 
Phelps & Gurley, 197 
Physicians, 81, 199, 266. 323 
Pickett, Chas. A. 244 
Pierce, A. H. 20 1 
Pierce & Cairington, jq 
Pierce's inn, S3, 56 



50 



394 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Pierce, Jeremiah, 47, 56, 73 

Pierce, Sackett & Co., 153 

Pierce, William, 166, 302 

Pierpont, Rev. John, 198, 208 

Pierson, Job, 167, 186, 212, 308 

Pigeons, 9 

Pine, J. Le Roy, 296 

Pinkster, 63 

Piscawen Kill, 12, 13, 20 

Pitcher, Samuel, 159 

Pitt, W. H. 232 

Ploss, Hendrick, Jr. 18 

Plough Boy, the, 144 

Plough Manufactory, 123 

Plum, Elias, 210, 279 

Plumb, W. H. Jr. 244 

Poesten Kill, 10, 11, 13, 20, 21, 42 

Poesten Mill, 11, 13 

Pollak, Rev. A. 317, 320 

Polls, 107, 108 

Poor, Overseers of, 30 

Postmasters, Troy, 302 

Post-office, first, 45 

Post-riders, 45 

Potter, Prof. Alonzo, 171 

Potter, John, 44 

Powers, Robert, 32, 49 

Pramer, Nelson, 296 

Pratt & Co., Luther, 48 

Preachers, 266, 318 

Prentiss, Peter, 44 

Prescott, Ebenezer, 39, 164 

Prescott & Co., E. 163 

Presidents of the Village, 269 

Press, Troy Daily, 336 

Property, value of real and personal, 372 

Proudfit, James, I02 

Providence, R. I. 22 

Pullen, George, 108 

Purington, Abijah, 77 

Pye's Tavern, 100, 103 

Pythias, Knights of, 342 

Quackenbush, John H. 232, 246 

Quakers, 75, 219 

Quay, John, 244 

Quinn, Timothy F. 232 

Rail Roads, Lansingburgh & Troy, 179 
New York & Albany, 191 
Offices of, 192, 209 
Rensselaer & Saratoga, 165, 178 
Rutland & Washington, 207 
Schenectady & Saratoga, I79 
Schenectady & Troy, 187 
Train, the first from New York, 

209 
Troy & Albia, 250 
Troy & Boston, 206 
Troy & Cohoes, 227, 249 
Troy & Greenbush, 192, 209 



Rail Road, Troy & Lansingburgh 
Horse, 227 

Troy & Stockbridge, 179 

Troy Union, 210, 212 
Rain-fall at Troy, 3S0 
Randal, Benjamin, 29 
Randal, Joshua, 18 
Randal, Stephen, 18 
Randel, David, 18 
Rankin, James, 164 
Ranken, Hugh, 249 
Ranken, Robert B. 257 
Ransom, Rev. H. W. 217 
Rapp, Christian W. 296 
Rathbun, Wait, 31, 35 
Raymond, Rev. Ebenezer, 174 
Raymond, Joshua, 70 
Read, Arba, 205, 210, 223, 227, 231, 279 
Read, Charles H. 302 
Read, Thomas, 164 
Recorders of Troy, 1 10, 280 
Redfield & Bradley, 102 
Reed, Benjamin, 185 
Reed, Leonard, 90, 106 
Regiment, First Long Island, 234 

Griswold Cavalry, 249 

Harris Cavalry, 234 

93d New York, 234 

125th New York, 244, 250 

169th New York, 244 

Second New York, 231, 246 

30th New York, 234 
Reilay, Gilbert, 167 
Remick, Rev. N. B. 315, 318 
Renouf, William, 77 
Rensselaer County, 10, 29 

Agricultural Society, II7 

Bible Society, 104, 350 

Medical Society, 81, 120, 349 

Sunday School Union, 1G6 
Rensselaer House, 158 
Rensselaer Iron Works, 261, 262 
Rensselaer Military Association, 122 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 147, 

243. 265, 345 
Rensselaerwyck, manor of, 12 
Representatives, County, 303 

City, 306 
Revival ftleetings, 224 
Reynolds, M. D., P. L. 245 
Reynolds, Stephen, 308 
Rhodes, G. N. 296 
Rice & Townsend, 49 
Rice, Obed, 1 14 
Rich, Wm. 172 
Richards, C. L. 223 
Richards, Charles R. 223 
Richards, George B. 297 
Richards, Ljwis, luo, 156 



I 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



39: 



Richards, Maria, 185 
Ricliards, Rufus, 159 
Richardson, Alfred, 77 
Richmond, Vohicy, 210 
Road, Hoosiciv, 20 

River, 20 
Robbins, M. I)., Amatus, 114 
Rohl)ins, Henry, 20G 
Roberts, Ralph B. 186 
Roberts, Capt. Wm. 49 
Roberts, Wm. 160 
Robertson, Gilbert, Jr. 206, 280, 302, 

307 
Robinson, Rev. Charles S. 217 
Robinson, D. D., Rev. Cliao. E., 257, 

315, 313 
Robinson, Daniel, 206 
R.obinson, Henrietta, 211 
Rochefoucault-Liancourt, Duke de la, 

42 
Rogers, Isaac, 27 
Rogers, James, 44 
Romeyn, Jeremiah, 307 
Ross, James, 44, 49 
Ross, Stephen, 82, 95, 106, 109 
Rousseau, H. 160, 171 
Rousseau, Lewis, 160 
Rousseau, Lewis A. 223, 349 
Rowe, M. D., Benjamin, 81 
Rumsey, Levi, 81, 83 
Russ pavement, 2lS 
Russell, Elijah, 49 
Russell & Hall, 153 
Russell, John, 81, 99 
Russell, Joseph, 99, 100, 121, 126, 131, 136 
Russell, Martin, 124 
Russell, Tracy & Co. 102 
Russell, Winslow, execution of, 173 
Sage, Russell, 201, 210 
Sage, William F. 161, 204, 20S 
Salisbury, Amos, 85, 107, 109 
Salmon, 187 
Sampson, J. 106 
Sands, William Samuel, 196 
Sandy Hook, 9 
Saratoga, battle of 18 
Sargeant, L. R. 210 
Sash factory, 163 
Savage, A. 232 
Schermerhorn, John C. 29 
Schermorhorn, John W. 29, 36 
Schools, 344 

Schoonmaker, Edgar P. 257 
Scott, Lemuel, 44 
Scott, Ira, 100 
Scott, Moses, 90 
Schryver, Edward, 210 
Schuyler, Barent, 12 
Schuyler, Captain Barent, 12, 1.3 



Schuyler, Captain Courtland, 12, 123 

Schuyler, Major Henry, 12 

Schuyler, Helen, 12 

Schuyler, John, 12 

Schuyler, Nicholas, 29, 73 

Schuyler, Colonel Thilip, 16, 17, 39 

Schuyler, Philip S. 12 

Schuyler, Captain Philip Pietersc, 11, 12 

Schuyler, Mrs. Shinah, 72 

Schuyler, Colonei Stephen I. 10, 17, 18 

Schuyler, Colonel Stei)lien V. R. 12 

Schuyler, Tobias R. 12 

Selden & Bros. C, 92 

Selden, Charles, 69, 99, 100 

Selden, G. M. 219 

Selden, Joseph D. 90, 99, 105, 106, 121 

Selden, William, 24 

Seminary, Troy Femaie, 125, 142, 2C5, 

345 
Seminary, St. Joseph's Provincial, 220, 

249, 265. 345 
Sentinel, Troy Daily, 160 
Seybert, Henry, 260 
Seymour, Ashebel, 44 
Seymour, David L. 169, 170, 179 
Seymour, Chas. E. 170, 171 
Seymour, Israel, 164 
Seymour's Tavern, McNeil 103, 108 
Sever, Jno. 17 
Sexton, Calvin, 49 
Sharp, Peter, 158 
Shaughnessy, James, 296 
Shaw, Comfort, 18 
Shaw, Samuel, 18 
Sheldon, D. D., Rev. C. P. 174 
Sheldon, Elias P. 244 
Sheldon, T. F. 244 
Sheldon, Wm. 31 
Shepard, William A. 250, 251 
Sheriffs, 29, 312 
Sherman, David, 97 
Sherwood, E. B. 204 
Sherman, Capt. R. W. 150 
Shields, Capt. II. L. 228, 232 
Shinplasters, 32, 33, loi, 245 
Shipard, Rev. Fayette, 172 
Shoes, manufacture of, 163 
Sickles, Thomas, 36, 37 
Silliman, Prof. Benjamin, 1 16 
Silliman & Gardner, 206 
Silliman, Robert D., 154, 164, 167 
Silvester, Francis, 30 
Sims, Geo. F. 257 
Simons, Rev. Ezra D. 250 
Skelding, Thomas, 49 
Skelding, Mrs. Thomas, 72 
Skelding, T. 121 
Skelding & Co. T. 102 
Skinner, Roger, 90 



396 



HISTORY OF THE CIIV OF TROV". 



Skinner, M. D., W. J. 245 

Slason, Alfred, 166, 170 

Slason, Henry, 49 

Slave Mob, P^igitive, 224 

Slavery, Abolition of 113 

Sloan, James, 17 

Slocum, Hiram, 205, 218, 219, 279 

Sloops Flora and Joanna, 24 

Smith, Adam, 13I 

Smith's Inn, A. 78 

Smith, Benjamin, 32, go, 96, loo, 136, 

308 
Smith, B. N. 245 
Smith, E. R. 245 
Smith, Harvey, 161, 190, 223 
Siiiith, Jacob, 18 
Smith, James 29 
Smith, Rev. John, 206 
Smith, John, the Razor Strop Man, 190 
Smith, Leonard, 227 
Smith, Munson, 164 
Smith, Samuel, 131 
Smith, Solomon, 49 
Smith, William, 131, 159 
Snedccker, Lt. Benjamin, 123 
Snodgrass, D. D., Rev. W. D. 166 
Snyder, S. W. 245 
Soap and candle factory, 163 
Societies, Local, 337, 347 
Society, Associate Relief, 231 
Society, Patriotic Women's, 231 
Soldier, the first killed, 234 
Somers, Rev. Charles G. 112 
Southwick, Cannon & Warren, 120, 153 
Southwick, r3aniel, 196 
Southwick, Edward, 76, 77 
Southwick, L. L. 223 
Southwick, Solomon, 1 14 
Spencer, J. C. 206 
Spencer, James, 43, 96 
Spencer, Joseph, 29 
Specie Payments Suspended, loi, 185, 

221 
Spotten, William, 18 
Spicer, Rev. Tobias, 104 
Squires, Capt. 31 
Squires, David, 47 
Squires, Norman, 164 
Squires, N, B. 250 
Staats, Nicholas, 29, 36 
Stages, 27, 130, 135, 164, 165, 167, igg 
Staples, Abraham, 77 
Staples, Edward, 76 
Stapleton, William B. 296 
S arbuck, C. & N. 123 
Starbuck & Gurley, 154 
Starbuck, N. B. 223 
Starbuck, Nathaniel, 77 
Etarbuck & Sons, N. 162, 199 



Starks & Edson, igg 

Starks, Independence, 174 

Starks, R. J., 2og 

Starr, Samuel, 81 

Steamboats, 83, 84, 150, 160, 186, ig2, 

197, 200, 204, 259, 368 
Steam Engine Factory and Machine 

Shop, Troy, 163 
Steam Engines manufactured, 154 
Steam Fire Engine trial, 222 
Steele, McG. 244 
Steel and Iron, 329 
Steene-hoeck, II 
Stevens, L. H. 244 
Stewart, John, 90 
Stewart, Peter, 156 
Stewart, Samuel, 69, 100 
Stillwater, battle of 18 
Stillwell, John, 44 
Stillwell, Samuel, 49 
St. Nikolaas, 63 
Stockwell, Henry, 119 
Stone, George A. 209 
Stony- Point, II 

Stove factories, 163, igg, 263, 329 
Stoves manufactured, igg 
Stover, Samuel, 212 
Stow, Silas K. 167 
Strait, E. Smith, 307, 308 
Stratton & Son, L. 162 
Street names, 77 
St. Regis, g2 
Strawberries, 9 
Strong, Henry W. I7g, 280 
Strunck, Hendrick, iS 
Sturgeon, 9 
Sullivan, John, 250 
Sullivan, Thomas, 232, 246 
Sunday School Union, Rensselaer Co. 

166 
Sunday, observance of, 28, 29 
Sunnyside, the, 259 
Supervisors, 29, 37 
Surrogates, 29, 308 

Sutherland, Thos. S. Manufactory of. 22 
Swallow the sinking 3f ihe, I97 
Svvasey, Edward R. 249 
Swett, Quimby & Co. 234 
Swift, Rev. J J. 317, 319 
Symonds, Thomas, 161, 227 
Synagogue, Jewish, 249 
Tafft, George. 232 
Talman. Thomas C. 49 
Tammany Society, 86 
Tanneries and Currying shops, 163 
Tappen, Jurian Teunisse, il 
Tarbell, F. W. 245 
Taverns, 71 78, 79, 103 
Tax Levies, Village and City, 370 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



397 



Taxes, Collectors of, 30 

Taxes, rate of City, County and State, 

374 
Taylor, Charles H. 244 
Taylor, Joseph C. igo 
Taylor, Mahlon, 27, 30, 42, 43, 53 
Taylor, Robert JNI. 223 
Taylor, Tracy, 250 
Taylor, W. I). 244 
Telegraph lines established, igg 
Telegraph, Fire Alarm, 252 
Temperature, high and low, 376, 377 
Temple, Rev. Richard, 218 
Ten Broeck, Dirck, 30 
Ten Eyck, Abraham, 17, 27, 29, 31, 95, 

269 
Ten Eyck, Anthony, 29, 307 
Ten Eyck, Barent li. 12 
Ten Eyck, Helena, 12 
Ten Eyck, Mrs. Sarah, 72 
Thayer, Hezekiah, 206 
Thenay, Alexander, 172 
Thomas, Gen. George B., burial of, 254 
Thomas, Andrews «& Penniman, 56 
Thomas, John, 126, 164, 297 
Thompson, Charles \V. 210 
Thompson, Israel, 29 
Thompson, J. F. 245 
Thompson, John L. 191, 210, 250 
Thompson, John L & Sons, 119 
Thomson, Robert, 17 
Thorn, James, 245, 279 
Thurber, Benjamin, 22 
Thurman, Richardson H. 205, 20S, 249 
Tibbits, Benjamin, 49, 56, 69 
Tibbits, Mrs. Benjamin, 72 
Tibbits, Elisha, 166 
Tibbits, George, 49, 75, 99, 100, 105, 

106, 117, 136, 156, 167, 172, 176, 279 
Tibbits, George M. 206, 259 
Tibbits, John B. 204 
Tibbits, Thomas M. 250 
Tibbits, Wm. B. 232, 246, 249 
Tilden, Elam, 179 
Tilley, Rev. Wm. J. 317, 319 
TiUinghast, B. A. 205 
Tillinghast, C. W. 223 
TiUinghast, Joseph J. 250 
Tillinghast, Thomas A. 223 
Tillman, Christopher, 17 
Tillman, Lewis T. 97, 102 
Times, The Troy Daily, 208, 246, 335 
Titus, Piatt, 79, 96, 102, 131, 142 
Titus' Tavern, 103, 108, 131, 135 
Toll-gate abolished, 234 
Tomkins, William, i 8 
Toneray, 17 
Tories, 16 
Townsend, Edward C. 257 



Townsend, Eli, 174 

Townsend, Henry, 107 

Townsend, Martin I. 170, 210, 212, 225, 

230, 247, 248 
Tracy, Cornelius L. 308 
Tracy, G. II. 170 
Tracy, Gardnier, 100 
Tracy, Jedediah, 147, 159, 164 
Tracy, Jesse, 107, 164 
Trade, Board of, 204 
Trader, the Trojan, 133 
Travelling, Quick, 151 
Treasurers, County, 311 
Treasurers, Village, 272 
Trenor Thomas, 90 
Trojan Greens, 85, 100 
Trojan, the Sunday, 336 
Troy Academy. 344 
Troy's Axe, 212 
Troy City Artillery, 202 
Troy Citizen's Corps, 173, 183, 201, 228 
Troy, the city of, 107, 109, 113, 124, 128, 

134, 149, 150, 153, 154, 161, 162, 165, 

174, 205, 267 
Troy Club, 251, 352 
Troy Gazette, 71 
Troy Grenadiers, 50 
Troy House, 79, 103, 108, 131, 135,139, 

158. 177, 178, 192, 227 
Troy Iron and Nail Factoiy, 96, 162, 

167 
Troy laid out, 23 
Troy Lyceum of Natural History, 77, 

1 14, I 17 
Troy named, 26 
Troy, the Steamboat, 186 
Troy Scientific Association, 267 
Troy, Town of, 29 
Troy, Village of, 37, 38, 40, 41. 42, 79, 

85, 91, lo6, 267 
Troy Young Men's Association, 170, 266, 

353. 355 
Troy Whig Publishing Company, 334 
Truesdell, Chester, 47 
Truesdell & Filer, 44 
Truesdell, Jonathan, 44 
Trustees of the Village, 270, 271 
Tryon, Governor William, 16 
Tucker, H. O'R. 335 
Tucker, D. D., Rev. John Ireland, 194, 

315. 319 
Tunnel, Hoosick, 207, 268 
Tuppei; Capt. G. O. 246 
Tupper, \\\ W. 204 
Turkeys, 9 

Turner, ^Iajor Thomas, 123 
Turner, Thomas, Jr. 162 
Twist, Herman, 44 
Tylee, Edward, 44, 83 



398 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



Tylee, Edward & James, I02 

Tynsen, D. B. 47 

Type setting machine, 190 

Ulysses Boat Club, 354 

Uncle Sam, gi 

University, the Troy, 219 

Vail. A. 251 

Vail & Co. 102 

Vail, D. Thomas, 200, 207, 210, 228, 

251 
Vail, E. R. 251 
Vail. George. 90, 159, l6b 
Vail. Henry, 164, 167 
Vail, H. & G. 102, 119, 153 
Vail, iSIoses, 29. 36, 42 
Vail, Samuel M. 251 
Vail. T. 201 

Vail. Townsend M. 166, 205, 223 
Valentine, Casparis, iS 
Van Aernum, Henry, 17 
Van Aernum, Isaac, 18 
Van Alen, John E. 29, 39, 70 
Van Aller. Prince, 172 
Van Alstyne, Jacob, 29 
Van Alstyne, W. L. 220, 249, 279 
Van Arnam, Abraham, 23, 24 
Van Brakle, James, 156 
Van Benthuysen, Jacob, 49 
Van Buren, President Martin, visit o , 

ise 

Van Corlaer, Arent, 10 

Vandenburgh, Cornelius, 30 

Vandenburgh, Gerrit, 107 

Vandenburgh, J. V. W. 244 

Van Deurs, Rev; George, 315, 318 

Van Dyck, Peter D. 30 

A^anderheyden, 23-4-5-6 

Van der Heyden, David, 13, 14 

Van del Hayden, Derick, 13, 14 

Van der Heyden family, 14, 16 

Van der Heyden, Jacob D. 13, 14, 20, 

21, 29, 31, 32, 35, 37, 40, 43, 44, 70, 
75, 79- 89 

Van der Heyden, Jacob I., 13, 14, 16, 20, 

22, 31 

Van der Heyden, Jacob, Jr. 29 
Van der Heyden, John D. 31 
Van der Heyden, Levinus, 171 
Van der Heyden, Mattys, 13, 14, 20 
Van der Heyden, Matthias, 14, 20, 21, 

22, 25, 31, 66 
Van der Heyden, Nanning, 31 
Van der Heyden, Nanning, Murder of, 

256 
Van der Heyden, P. F. 349 
Van der Heyden, W. D. 130 
Van der Poel, Wynant Gerritse, II, 12, 

261 
Vanderwerken, John, l3 



Van Every, Jacob, iS 

Van Every, W. II. 297 

Van Kleeck, D. D., Rev. R. B. 193, 208 

Van Ostrander, John, 18 

Van Rensselaer, Capt., Troop of Horse, 
50 

Van Rensselaer, Jan Baptiste, 10 

Van Rensselaer, John, 2g, 67 

Van Rensselaer, Colonel John, regi- 
ment in 1787, 67 

Van Rensselaer, Kiliaen, 10 

Van Rensselaer. Stephen, 106, 147 

Van Santvoord, George, 212 

Van Schaick Island, 17 

Van Schendell, Gillis, 9 

Van Schoonhoven, Guert, 69, 147 

Van Schoonhoven, Gerrit, 30 

Van Schoonhoven, James, 100, 131-. 179, 
201 

Van Schoonhoven, J. Lansing, 209 

Van Schoonhoven, W. H. 170, 1 71 

Van Slechtenhorst, Brandt, 10 

Van Slechtenhorst. Margaret, 1 1 

Van Tuyl, Abraham, 167, 179 

Van Vechten, Harmin, 29 

Van Velsen, Sweer Theunissen, II, 12, 42 

Van VIeck, George, 18 

Van Woggelum, Geertrug Picterse, 1 1 

Van Woggleum, Pieter Pieterse, 1 1, 12 
13 

Vaughn, A, D 245 

Veazie, Charles, 97, 163, 164 

Velocipedes, 124 

Viele, Major J. J. 202 

Viele, Philip, 308 

Village officers, 269-78 

Volksfreund, the Troy 336 

Voter's qualification, 108 

Vyselaer, Jan Cornelise, 1 1, 12 

Wager & Dater, 199 

Wager, Jacob, 30 

Wager, Nicholas, 29 

Waite, W. M, 257 

Walbridge, Ebenezcr W. loO 

Walker, James E. 262 

Walker, John, 18 

Walker, Rev. William F. 185 

Wallace, James, 187 

Wallace, Uriah, 154 

Walsh, D. D., Rev. G. H. 253, 315, 319 

Walworth, Reuben H. 82 

Wandclacr, John De 29 

War, 91, 230, 231 

Material manufactured. 234 
Meetings, 229, 230 

Ward, Aaron, 17 

Wards, 80, 107, log 

Wardwell, James, 31 

Warner. Calvin, 164 



HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 



399 



Warner, Charles, 2i8 

Warner. Harvey, 170, 171 

Warren, C. S. 223 

Warren & Co., E. 54, I02, IlS 

Warren, Eliakim, 54, 73, 74 

Warren, Esaias, 54, 75, 90, loi, 120, 136 

156, 279 
Warren, Mrs. Esaias, 72 
Warren, George B. 164, 167, 196, 250 
Warren, George B. Jr. 279 
Warren. John, 31 
Warren, John Hohart, 250, 251 
Warren, Joseph M. 161, 204, 223, 250, 

251,279 
Warren, Mrs. Mary, 193 
Warren, Moses, 30S 
Warren, Nathan, 54, 72, 96, 100, 126, 

131, 156, 159, 166 
Warren, Stephen, 54, 85, 83, 106, 136, 

160, 166, 196 
Warren, Stephen E. 206 
Wasliington Benevolent Soeiety, 88 
Washington Hall, 167 
Wasliington, death of, 56 
Washington Square, 96 
Wasliington Volunteers, go 
Waters, E. 223 
Waters, George A. 251 
Waters' Hotel, 158 
Waters, Israel, 49 
Water wheel, great, 169 
Water works, 95, 96, 160 
Watrous, Andrew, 201 
Watson, Elkanah, 25 
Watter, John, 18 
Wayland, Rev. Francis, 104 
Webber, D. D., Rev. G. N. 315, 318 
Webster, Hon. Daniel, visit of, 190 
Weed, Alsop, 164, 167 
Weed, Darius, 160 
Weed, Jared S. 170, 171, 191, 210, 227, 

297 
Weibel, Rev. John W. H -^is, 319 
Welch, Peter. 49 
Weld, Theodore D. 172 
VVelks, Silas, 29 
Wellington, Isaac, 190 
Wells & Co., I. M. 102, 120 
Wells, M. D., I. M. 81, 106, 114 
Wells, Israel, 49 
Wells, Philander, 60, 179, 196 
Wemp, Jan Barentsen, 10, II 
Wemp, Maritie Mynderse, II 
Wemple, Abram A. 190 
Wendell, Gerrit, 30 
Wendell, Major D. S. 123 
Wescott, Joseph, 44 
Westervelt, Rev. Ralph, 104 
Wheawill, Henry, 257 



Wheeler, John, 44, 166, 179 

Whig, the Troy, 334 

Whigs, 15 

Whipping-post, 44 

Whipple, Job, 49 

Whitford, Major Edward, 123 

Whitman, W. W. 302 

Whiton, John, 160 

Whitsuntide, 63 

Wicks, Joel, 49 

Wicks, Piatt, 49 

Wicks, W. H. 245 

Wier, Prof. R. W. 195 

Wight, Daniel. 166 

Wilbur, Solomon, 31, 119 

Wilcox, A. D. 204 

Wilden, lO 

Willard. Mrs. Emma, 125, 143,231,265 

Willard, Georre L. 244 

Willard, John"D. 158, 164. 179, 186 

Willard. John N. 205 

Willard, M. D., Moses, 81 

Willard, William, 30 

Willard, William T. 185, 206, 223, 302 

Willett, Elbert, 44 

Williams, D.avid, 49, 53 

Williams, Hezekiah, 90 

Williams, John, 77 

Williams, Moses, 166 

Williams, Nathan, 44, 45, 302 

Williamson, C. 185 

Williamson, Rev. R. D. 315, 318 

Willis, Lemuel, 131 

Willis, Tylee & Co., 44 

Willoughby, William, 17, 18 

Wilson, Ebenezer, 27, 99 " 

Wilson, Ebenezer, Jr.. 82 

Wilson, Edward, Jr. 166 

Wilson, E. T. 246 

Wilson, Mrs. Elizabeth S. 72 

Wilson, Geo. F. 232 

Wilson, Jos. 31 

Wilson, Samuel, 27, 31, 66, 91 ^ 

Wilson, T. 232 

Winchell, Peletiah, 18 

Winne, Gerritt, 29 

Winslow, Captain, 49 

Winslow, John F. 234, 262 

Wood, Ephraim, 244 

Wood, E. T. 185 

Wood, N. 245 

Woodward, M. D., Benjamin, 81 

Woodworth, Major John, Jr. 123 

Woodworth, Hon. John. 30, 31, 45, 47, 

54, 56, 69, 75, 81, 266, 302,308 
Woodworth, Robert, 29, 36, 307 
Wool, John, 18 
Wool, Gen. John E. 94, 97, 179, 201, 

204, 206, 207 227. 230. 235. 253 



400 HISTORY OF THE CITY OF TROY. 

Wotkyns, Alfrecl, 164, 209, 221, 279 Young, James, 49, 119 

Wright, Goodenow & Stockwell, 83 Young, John, l3 

Wright & Wilbur, 71 Young, Samuel, 106 

Wylie, John, 37 Young, William H. 113, 223, 231, 232, 

Wynants Kill, li. 261 349, 355 

Yates, John W. 30 Yvonnet, Francis, 102, 156 

Young, George, 31 Yvonnet, V. Jr. 167 

Young, Rev. George H. 317, 320 Zander, James A. 97 155, 185 

Young, Guilford D. 05 93 Zouaves, Anderson, 234 

Young, H. 31 Zouaves, Chicago, 227 



